Batangas coalition chooses ’04 bets

BATANGAS CITY — The newly formed alliance "Lakas ng Batangas" has signed a covenant endorsing the candidacies of Sto. Tomas Mayor Armand Sanchez and former Batangas City mayor Angelito Dimacuha for governor and vice governor, respectively, in next year’s local elections.

The covenant, dubbed "A Covenant for Principled Politics," was signed at the Manila Hotel last Dec. 2 by members of the coalition headed by Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas.

"It was the alliance’s decision and I support this covenant 100 percent," Mandanas told The STAR.

The coalition is composed of Batangas politicians belonging to the administration party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and opposition parties Reporma and Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

"The Lakas ng Batangas can be considered a breakaway group of the administration party Lakas-CMD," Batangas City councilor Steve Buan said.

The alliance will also serve as a united front against moves by former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez to capture the governorship in the May 2004 elections.

All but one of the seven mayors of the second district of Batangas, the district of Rep. Frank Perez, son of the former justice secretary, have thrown their support behind the Lakas ng Batangas. — Arnell Ozaeta