No rift, all’s well in Pangasinan LP

ALAMINOS City Mayor Hernani Braganza, who is running for governor, dares his main rival, Gov. Amado Espino, to disclose all his wealth. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

DAGUPAN CITY—Former Pangasinan Gov. Victor Agbayani, the Liberal Party (LP) provincial chair, may have “stepped aside” as campaign manager of gubernatorial candidate Hernani Braganza, but all is well in the administration party in the province, a party official said.

Former Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, LP spokesperson in the province, said LP leaders, including Agbayani, have no differences.

“[Agbayani] said he did not resign as campaign manager, but was giving way to [Braganza] to be his own campaign manager,” said Lambino.

Agbayani, according to Lambino, “could not resign because he did not have an appointment in the first place.”

Last week, Agbayani announced that he was giving way to Braganza, the incumbent Alaminos City mayor, as campaign manager because “based on my own experience, the best campaign manager is the candidate himself.”

Braganza is facing reelectionist Gov. Amado Espino Jr., who is running for a third and final term.

Agbayani, however, said he would stay as LP provincial chair. He said he would focus more on helping the party’s senatorial candidates and guiding local candidates.

“Political leaders still rely on me and are waiting for my instruction, so we will play an active role as LP’s provincial chair,” said Agbayani, a three-term governor and a former representative of the province’s second district.

He said he had to backtrack as Braganza’s campaign manager because they have different campaign strategies.

“It would be best that he (Braganza) take the role of being his own campaign manager,” he said.

Braganza praised Agbayani, saying Agbayani showed magnanimity and humility. The mayor said Agbayani’s “focusing on the LP senatorial bets would be a big help.” Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon