CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— The administration Liberal Party (LP) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) have fielded more candidates for top positions in Central Luzon for next year’s elections than other political parties.
According to the Commission on Elections, at least 86 LP and 54 NPC members filed their certificates of candidacy for representatives, governors, vice governors and mayors in the region’s seven provinces last month.
More LP members are running in Nueva Ecija (28), Bulacan (26) and Pampanga (11), while the NPC has a strong presence in Tarlac (23) and Bulacan (12).
UNA, NUP
The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which is fielding Vice President Jejomar Binay in the presidential race, has 19 candidates in the region. The UNA-Balane (Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija) tandem has 17 candidates.
The National Unity Party (NUP) has 19 candidates in Bataan and Bulacan, while Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) has the same number but confined only in Tarlac.
The Nacionalista Party (NP) has 16 candidates; PDP-Laban, 11; Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), 10; and Aksyon and Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), six each.
At least 105 candidates are running as independents.
Local parties command a strong following in Central Luzon provinces.
Kambilan, which is headed by Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, has 17 candidates, while the party’s coalition with NPC has three candidates and with LP, one candidate.
In Angeles City, Kambilan supports Partido Abe Kapampangan of reelectionist Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, who is being challenged by outgoing Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid and his Lingap Lugud Capampangan party.
The Sulong Zambales Party of Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has filled up 16 positions in the province. Lakas and Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) have three candidates in the region, including former President and reelectionist Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is seeking her third and last term unopposed.
Unopposed
Aurora Gov. Gerardo Noveras is also unopposed in his reelection bid.
In Bataan, members of the Garcia family are running unopposed: Albert (governor), his father Enrique Jr. (vice governor), elder brother Jose Enrique (representative, second district) and youngest brother, Francis Anthony (mayor, Balanga City).
Also unopposed are Morong Mayor Cynthia Linao-Estanislao and vice mayoral candidates Maria Khristine de la Fuente (Abucay), Vianca Gozon (Balanga City) and Maria Chona Linao-Garcia (Morong).
In Bulacan, running unopposed are Plaridel Mayor Jocell Vistan, and San Rafael Mayor Cipriano Violago and Vice Mayor Edison Veneracion.
In Nueva Ecija, Mariano Cristino Joson and Mariano Noriel Joson are unopposed in their bids as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, of Quezon town.
In Pampanga, no rivals challenged Governor Pineda, her son, Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda, and her daughter, Lubao Mayor Mylyn Cayabyab.
Also unopposed are Mabalacat Vice Mayor Christian Halili, City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago and Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, San Luis Mayor Venancio Macapagal and Vice Mayor Leonardo Salas Jr., and Sta. Rita Vice Mayor Homobono Guanlao.