Local Tarlac leaders back Danding for ’04

TARLAC CITY — Public officials in this home province of former Ambassador Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco have crossed party lines to thank groups and individuals who have been pushing for Cojuangco’s presidential candidacy in 2004.

Local elected stalwarts of the political parties Lakas, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) have joined the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and Sama-Sama Tarlac (SST) in signing a resolution thanking those who have been urging the business tycoon to consider running in next year’s presidential race.

Various organizations in this city and the 17 towns of the province have issued their respective manifestos asking Cojuangco to run.

Gov. Jose Yap, NPC’s provincial chairman, said he will forward the resolution and the different manifestos to Cojuangco himself so that he can decide on the growing clamor for his presidential candidacy.

Foremost among those who have expressed gratitude to the people who have been prodding Cojuangco to run for president are members of the provincial board led by Vice Gov. Marcelino Aganon, Jr.

Tarlac’s Liga ng mga Barangay, chaired by ex-officio board member Noel de la Cruz of Camiling and the Vice Mayors League of Tarlac headed by Paniqui Vice Mayor Joy Gilbert Lamorena, have also passed separate resolutions of gratitude.

Leading the province’s 18 mayors in thanking the businessmen’s supporters was Moncada Mayor Estelita Aquino, who heads the Tarlac Mayors League and chairs Kampi in her town.

Another local Kampi figure who similarly expressed gratitude to Conjuangco’s supporters was Camiling Mayor Juan delos Reyes, who also led local officials in his town in signing a resolution of thanks.

Meanwhile, Tarlac City Mayor Genaro Mendoza, who chairs Lakas-NUCD in the second congressional district, led his constituents in signing a separate manifesto expressing support for Cojuangco’s presidential bid. At the same time, city councilors from Lakas-NUCD, NPC-SST, LDP and LP have adopted a similar stand.

In the third congressional district, Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan, chairman of Lakas-NUCD, led other elected officials in signing another resolution of thanks addressed to Cojuangco’s backers in the private sector.

In Cojuangco’s hometowm of Paniqui, the 2,000-strong women’s group, Katipunan ng mga Liping Pilipina (Kalipi) issued a manifesto strongly expressing its "unwavering support and commitment towards his success."

"The heightened clamor for his candidacy and the growing number of people urging him to run for president could not just be ignored," Kalipi’s manifesto stated.

Yap said Cojuangco "may likely become the common standard bearer of Lakas and NPC."

Lakas presently maintains a "sunshine coalition" with the NPC in the Lower House, even as several Lakas congressmen identified with House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. have already expressed support for Cojuangco’s candidacy.