N. Ecija no longer opposition bailiwick; all mayors back GMA

CABANATUAN CITY - All five city mayors and 27 municipal mayors in Nueva Ecija — long known as an opposition bailiwick — are throwing their support behind President Arroyo who is seeking a full six-year term in the May 10 elections.

Former House Assistant Majority Leader Renato Diaz said this is the first time in the province’s history that all local chief executives belonging to both the Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats (CMD) and the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane) will be rallying behind a president.

The local Lakas-CMD and Balane, which has traditionally been allied with the opposition, recently forged a tactical alliance.

Nueva Ecija has been an opposition bailiwick since the post-Marcos era when the late former six-term governor Eduardo Joson Sr. formed Balane which coalesced with opposition parties.

Diaz, Lakas-CMD co-chairman for Central Luzon and the presidential assistant for North Luzon, said Nueva Ecija is solid behind Mrs. Arroyo.

"We are uniting toward changing the image of Nueva Ecija from an opposition bailiwick to an administration bailiwick," he said.

He said Mrs. Arroyo is the only president who has extensively supported irrigation programs in the province.

"Because of the Casecnan and Pantabangan dams, the maximum summer hectarage planted by farmers is expected to hit 80,000 hectares," he said.

The five city mayors supporting Mrs. Arroyo are Jay Vergara of Cabanatuan City, Ernesto Natividad of Gapan City, Alex Belena of San Jose City, Lorelei Fajardo of Palayan City, and Nestor Alvarez of the Science City of Muñoz.

The other Nueva Ecija mayors who have thrown their support behind Mrs. Arroyo are Beth Vargas (Aliaga), Francisco Guerrero (Bongabon), Gloria Crespo-Congco (Cabiao), Luvimindo Otic (Carranglan), Amado Corpuz (Cuyapo), Dominador Mandia (Gabaldon), Virgilio Bote (Gen. Tinio), Levi Santos (Gen. Natividad), Jose Lucius Dizon (Guimba), Cezar Eduardo (Jaen), Blas Canlas (Laur), Noli Co (Licab), Arsenio Natividad (Llanera), Alfredo Vendivil (Lupao), Luisito Verayo (Nampicuan), Lucio Uera (Pantabangan), Felix Corpuz (Peñaranda), Mariano Cristino Joson (Quezon), Eladio Lapuz (Rizal), Jose Salonga (San Antonio), Nestor Magno (San Isidro), Ramon Revilla-Bautista Jr. (San Leonardo), Marlon Marcelo (Sta. Rosa), Jimmy Domingo (Sto. Domingo), Lito Fausto (Talavera), Pacifico Monta (Talugtog) and Arthur Custodio (Zaragoza).

Diaz said rivalries in the local level between Lakas-CMD and Balane candidates will continue although arrangements are being worked out.

However, when the issue involves Mrs. Arroyo, rival politicians will support her.

"Whenever feasible, efforts will be made to see if some internal arrangements can be effected. But when it comes to the President, both sides will endorse her," he said.

As a gesture of honoring the tactical alliance, Diaz said the Lakas-CMD did not field a gubernatorial candidate, while Balane, in return, did not oppose the re-election bid of third district Rep. Aurelio Umali.

Diaz said the issue on the candidacy of his wife, Cecille, in the Joson-controlled first congressional district is still being discussed.

"In the first district, Mrs. Diaz has filed (her candidacy) but she has not made any announcement," he said.

Diaz served as congressman of the first district in 1992 and 1995. In 1995, he beat Rep. Josie Manuel-Joson, wife of outgoing Quezon Mayor Mariano Cristino Joson.

Manuel-Joson, however, turned the tide in 1998. In 2001, a third rematch between her and Diaz was averted when Mrs. Arroyo came into power and appointed the latter as presidential assistant for North Luzon with the rank of undersecretary. Diaz then fielded his wife, who lost to Manuel-Joson.