Mayors support guv’s reelection bid

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Some 99 percent or 19 out of the 20 Pampanga mayors pledged support to the reelection bid of Governor Lilia Pineda.

Pineda was joined by the mayors when she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) before the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday.

Among the mayors who are backing the reelection bid of the governor are Marino Morales (Mabalacat City), Romulo Pecson (Magalang), Jerry Pelayo (Candaba), Venancio Macapagal (San Luis), Annette Balgan (Macabebe), Peter Flores (Masantol), Arturo Naguit (Minalin), Mylene Pineda-Cayabyab (Lubao), Yolly Pineda (Sta. Rita), Ric Rivera (Guagua), Eduardo Guerrero (Floridablanca), Joselito Naguit (Sto. Tomas) and Jun Tetangco (Apalit), Condralito dela Cruz (Porac), Leonora Simbulan Capule Wong (San Simon), Luis Chito Espino (Arayat), Teddy Tumang (Mexico), Lala Leoncio (Sasmuan), and Rommel Omeng Concepcion (Sta. Ana).

They are all members of Kambilan, a local political party established by the governor.

Bacolor Mayor Jose Maria Hizon said he and his mother Lolita Hizon, who are both running as independent candidates, are fully supportive to the governor’s bid for reelection.

City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez is the only incumbent mayor who may possibly support the gubernatorial bid of former governor Eddie Panlilio, a priest-turned-politician. Rodriguez and Panlilio are both members of the ruling Liberal Party.

But Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago, Rodriguez’s choice for the mayoralty race in this city, took his oath as member of the Kambilan party.

Pineda has gained the trust of local officials after she has delivered tangible programs, which benefited the Kapampangan people.

The governor reiterated her appeal to political allies to refrain from political bickering and focus on platforms of government and how they could help uplift the way of life of the less fortunate.

She also cited infrastructure development particularly on how to avert flooding in their respective municipalities.