BALANGA CITY, Philippines – About 1,000 provincial, municipal and local leaders led by Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia welcomed Sen. Grace Poe at the provincial capitol after a three-hour motorcade on Wednesday.
Garcia, president of the Nationalist Unity Party, told The STAR that the NUP has coalesced with the Liberal Party to support administration presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II.
However, Poe’s father, movie icon Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), remains popular among residents of this province, according to Garcia.
The governor said a number of FPJ’s movies were filmed in the coastal villages and historic mountain ranges of Mariveles town.
FPJ’s father, Fernando Poe Sr., a World War ll veteran, was a survivor of the Bataan Death March.
Speaking to supporters, Poe vowed to implement agricultural reforms such as free irrigation and to provide free lunch to public school students if she wins the presidency.
The senator said she has unforgettable memories of her visits to Bataan’s various towns together with her parents.
From Roxas to Poe
In Zambales, Roxas lost political allies as 10 mayoral and seven provincial board member candidates of the LP are now supporting Poe in the presidential elections.
In a three-page manifesto, support for Poe was affirmed by local LP bets including William Mandilag, Eddie Misa, Reynaldo Tarongoy, Jobert Fallorin, Saturnino Bactad, Raedag Villamin and Eloisa Lat, who are running for provincial board member.
Others who signed the manifesto were mayoral candidates Resty Viloria (Castillejos), Juan Alvez (San Antonio), Adonid Ramos (San Narciso), Jun Pangan (Cabangan), Rogelio Yap (Botolan), Ad Hebert Deloso (Iba), Milagros Guatlo (Palauig), Arseniang Lim (Masinloc), Gilbert Hermoso (Candelaria) and Angel Maestre (Sta. Cruz), together with their respective vice mayors and councilors. – With Ric Sapnu