Gov. Espino Says NPC is Now the Ruling Party in Pangasinan

Lingayen- - - Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. commended the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) as he dubbed it as the present ruling party in Pangasinan with principle that is based on “loyalty and unity.”

This developed as the Governor returned to his former party affiliation in an oath-taking ceremony held at the historic and elegant Sison Auditorium here, April 23. “Una kong partido ang NPC lumipat lang ako noong naging inactive ang founding chairman, si Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco,” he said as he added that the coalition party is a great fraternity with aspiration to promote the betterment of Filipino condition. It will be recalled that the Governor ran under the banner of Lakas-KAMPI during the last election.

NPC representative and former 5^th district congressman Mark Cojuangco, congratulated Gov. Espino as he welcomed him back to the party. “NPC is a party whose sights are set on practicality not seen in other parties. Members are dependent in identity and independent in thought. Dito, walang iwanan,” Cojuangco noted.

Earlier, the young Cojuanco was rumored to be eyeing the governorship of Pangasinan.

But he categorically denied in an interview with the media, saying the reports were orchestrated by political camps opposed to the Espino administration.

A former police officer, Espino threw his hat for the first time into the political arena by joining the congressional race in the province’s second district and won under NPC.

Espino has been endorsed by the NPC and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) in the gubernatorial fight against former Gov. Victor Agbayani’s wife, Jamie, in 2007.  Espino won as new Governor of Pangasinan.

In his reelection bid in 2010, the governor as Lakas-Party candidate, swamped Agbayani by more than half a million votes, the biggest margin in the history of Pangasinan’s gubernatorial race.

The Governor who is a party returnee was joined by some five members of the board (BM Raul Sison, BM Von Mark Mendoza, BM Amadeo T. Espino, BM Salvador Perez, Jr., BM Fontellera), 14 mayors, six vice mayors from different towns of the province and two new inductees, Junel Anthony Espino, youngest son of the provincial chief executive and Atty. Angel Baniqued, Jr., son of BM Angel Baniqued (already a member of NPC).

The 16 mayors who took their oath are as follows: Bolinao Mayor Alfonso F. Celeste, Anda Mayor Aldrin Cerdan, Agno Mayor Jose Pajeta, Mabini Mayor Carlitos Reyes, Burgos Mayor Guiang, Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez, Sual Mayor John Rodney Arcinue, Lingayen Mayor Ernesto “Jonas” Castaneda, Aguilar Mayor Eduardo Ballesteros, Binmaley Mayor Lorenzo Cerezo, Mapandan Mayor Maximo Calimlim, Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay, San Carlos Mayor Jullier Resuello, Pozorrubio Mayor Artemio Chan and Laoac Mayor Silverio Alarcio.

The six vice mayors, on the other hand, include Vice Mayor Filipina Rivera (Bani),  VM Manuel Rivera (Dasol), VM Reynaldo Reyes(Pozorrubio), VM Wilson Rosete (Agno), Virgilio Vallarta (Infanta) and Alimar Briana (Mabini).

Former 1^st District Congressman Arthur F. Celeste likewise took his oath.

Aside from Cojuangco, the ceremony was led by party officials Valenzuela Congressman and NPC Spokesperson Rex Gatchalian and NPC Secretary General Mark Leandro Mendoza who administered the oath.

Present during the ceremony were Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., also an NPC member and former Congressman Robert “Eskimo” Estrella.