Defections hit once powerful party in Vizcaya

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Nacionalista Party (NP) in Nueva Vizcaya is crumbling after the once dominant party in the province was deserted by its top leaders and several members.

The official list of candidates from the Commission on Elections showed that former NP stalwarts had filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) under rival parties, often going head-to-head with NP’s bets.

NP members, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, said there is resentment within the party, and the remaining NP members have expressed dismay over the selection of the party’s official candidates for local positions.

“Many members were disappointed that the NP was not able to select a viable candidate for governor and other lower positions. The proposed alliance with [the Liberal Party (LP)] was also a failure,” said an NP member.

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The Inquirer tried to reach Rep. Carlos Padilla, NP provincial chair, but he did not respond to text messages on Wednesday.

But Board Member Epifanio Lamberto Galima, the party’s second highest-ranking elected official in the province, said: “Whatever their reasons, I respect [their decision to leave the party].”

Leading the NP deserters are Gov. Luisa Cuaresma, the party’s provincial president, and Vice Gov. Jose Gambito, provincial vice president, who are now running under the United Nationalist Alliance.

A three-term governor, Cuaresma filed her COC for representative to challenge Padilla, her political ally of 24 years.

Gambito, on his last term, is running for governor against NP candidate Pedro Algeria Sr., a village chair in Solano town. Other aspirants are Donna Lyn Gerdan of the LP and Dionisio Laureta of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

The provincial NP, led by Padilla, failed to forge a coalition with the LP over supposed disagreements over common gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial candidates, an LP source here said. Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon