Town mayor withdraws from Abra governor race

MANILA, Philippines - To strengthen unity within the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party and lessen the political tension in Abra, tagged as the “killing fields” in northern Luzon in past elections, a gubernatorial bet withdrew from the race Saturday.

Mayor Lizardo Sinogo of Laganilang town decided to forego his political ambition to give peace a chance to prevail in Abra, one of the provinces with a history of political killings in previous elections.

“I decided to withdraw from the race to preserve party unity in the province,” Sinogo told The STAR moments after his lawyers submitted his withdrawal from the gubernatorial race.

The withdrawal of Sinogo, who served for 16 years in the US Army, including a deployment in Vietnam, left incumbent Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin unopposed in the gubernatorial race.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa viewed Sinogo’s withdrawal as a good sign, as he declared that Abra “is on the right track in its goal to be one of the most peaceful provinces” in the May polls.

In the 2007 elections, at least 17 people were killed in Abra.

Despite the positive development, Verzosa directed Chief Superintendent Rolando Pestano, Cordillera police director, to closely monitor the movements of four partisan armed groups reportedly maintained by Abra politicians and prevent them from sowing violence before and after the elections.

A third-term mayor, Sinogo filed his candidacy for governor as an independent because the Lakas-Kampi-CMD is fielding Bersamin in the gubernatorial race.

But Mayor Lando Somera of Pilar town, president of the League of Mayors of Abra, convinced Sinogo to make a sacrifice for the sake of peace in the province.

During his three terms as mayor, Sinogo was credited for converting the far-flung Laganilang from a “ghost town” to a vibrant and lively place by building schools, bridges, roads, water systems and other infrastructure.

He boasted that under his term, peace and order prevailed in his town, once tagged as “rebel–infested.”