Ecija gov: Mayor acting 'unstatesmanlike'

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines  – Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali has assailed Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara for the latter’s alleged unstatesmanlike conduct for claiming he was just trying to annoy the governor’s camp in pushing for the conversion of the city into a highly urbanized city (HUC).

“It’s very unstatesmanlike,” Umali said, referring to Vergara’s antics concerning his HUC bid.

Earlier, Vergara told newsmen he was having “fun” in spearheading the campaign for the HUC even if this has sparked a negative reaction from Umali, his estranged political ally.

“Nanga-asar lang ako. ‘Di pa ko tapos mang-asar eh (I’m just trying to annoy them. I have not finished annoying them),” he said, in jest.

Umali said Vergara’s antics are both uncalled for and inappropriate, considering that the issue at hand is highly significant because it involves the welfare of Novo Ecijanos and Cabanatueños and the latter’s freedom to choose their provincial governor.

Umali and Vergara have been locked up in a bitter word war since October over the HUC bid. The plan, which will be ratified in a plebiscite has also divided their own political allies and supporters.

Their feud is considered the biggest political break-up since they formed a formidable alliance to topple the Josons from the provincial capitol, ending the clan’s half-century reign in the province.

Vergara has claimed that he is still feeling the public pulse and consulting with his political subordinates and the citizenry and that he has not made up his mind on whether to pursue the HUC or not. In fact, he said, there was no resolution yet passed by the city council supporting the HUC bid.

Umali said he is against the conversion of the city into a HUC, into a lone congressional district or into an independent component city.

The governor also took exception to Vergara’s statements that once it becomes HUC, Cabanatuan would be freed from being Nueva Ecija’s slave. “He keeps on saying that Cabanatuan would be set free from slavery. But Nueva Ecija has never enslaved Cabanatuan,” he said.