Junked Isabela Lakas bets root for Gibo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines  – Despite being junked by their own party, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, its original members in Isabela remain behind the administration-anointed presidential candidacy of former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro.

Vice Gov. Ramon Reyes, an Isabela Lakas stalwart, said their party colleagues are still supporting all-out Teodoro’s bid, although they were no longer the official administration candidates after they were eased out by their rival political group.

“Although we were not made official candidates of the administration party, we still support Secretary Teodoro’s presidential candidacy, since as far as we know, we are still Lakas-CMD members,” he said.

Reyes, a true-blue Lakas-CMD member, is running for Isabela’s third congressional district under the administration-allied party-list group Bigkis Pinoy of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chairman Efraim Genuino.

“Besides, the Bigkis Pinoy is still with the administration and we are with the administration,” said Reyes. 

Reyes, a known political ally of Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, is up against three-term Alicia town Mayor Napoleon Dy of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), where his elder brother, former governor Faustino Dy Jr. is the national party chairman.      

Another party mate, graduating Isabela second district Rep. Edwin Uy, the province’s Lakas-CMD chairman, is running for vice governor in tandem with Padaca, a member of the Liberal Party who is rooting for Sen. Benigno “Noynoy”Aquino’s presidential bid.

Uy, along with other original Lakas-CMD members in Isabela, however, remain with Teodoro, despite having been eased out as the administration’s official candidates.

“We are still behind the candidacy of Secretary Teodoro despite not being official candidates of the administration,” said Uy.

Their rivals, graduating Reps. Faustino Dy III (third district) and Rodito Albano (first district), who were both known NPC members, are now the official candidates of the administration for governor and vice governor, respectively.