Over 100 local candidates join Liberal Party
More than 100 local officials and candidates today formally took their oaths before the Liberal Party banner in a simple ceremony in Balay, Expo Centro in Quezon City.
Among those who took their oaths were actor Richard Gomez, who plans to run as representative of the fourth district of Leyte; Shalani Soledad, councilor of Valenzuela and girlfriend of LP presidential bet Noynoy Aquino; and local officials and candidates of Manila, Valenzuela City, Caloocan City, Aurora, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Albay, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Compostela Valley.
The new members were warmly welcomed by Senators Aquino and Mar Roxas, who would be the Liberal’s presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, in the 2010 national elections.
“Kadungganan ko nga maka-upod kamo tanan sining pagpakigbatu naton. Pamatu-od lamang ini nga dili kami naga-isahanon ni Noynoy. Ini ang dungog sang Liberal, ang pagtamud sa sistema sang pulitika nga ginahandum sang aton mga pumuloyu. Konsensya bag-o ang ambisyon; prinsipyo bag-o ang kagamhanan; ang pungsod bag-o ang kaugalingon,” said Roxas, who has been the front runner in surveys for vice president conducted by credible polling organizations.
He added: “We see a restoration of these values embodied by our two new Liberals today. Ginapasundayag nila ang bag-ong paagi sang pulitika kag pagdumala nga amon ginadusu ni Noy: tampad, dungganon, handa makigbatu, kag syempre, maambong kag maanyag.”
The Visayan senator reminded his party mates about the enormous challenges that lie ahead, urging them to remain confident that victory will come to those who have only the people’s welfare and interests at heart.
“Madamu kag mabaskug ang mga palaligban sang pungsod nga kinahanglan kaayuhon naton. Mabaskug ang kaaway. Kinahanglan sa pwersa sang kaayohan nga maglupig sang nagalapnag nga kagarukan kag kalainan nga nagapalibot sa aton,” he said.
“Kinahanglan naton makigbatu katulad sang pagbatu sadtong mga nauna sa aton – katulad ni Ninoy nga naghalad sang kabuhi, katulad ni Tita Cory nga nagbiya sang malinong nga pagkabuhi bangod sa mga pumuloyu. Katulad sang akon kaugalingon nga amay kag iloy nga nalukpan sang granada sa Plaza Miranda,” he also said.
The entry of Soledad and Gomez came following the defections of QC Mayor Sonny Belmonte and Vice Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista and Kalookan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri.
Others who have joined the LP were former Senator Jose “Joey” Lina, Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental Mayor Ruthie Guingona, Pasay City Vice Mayor Antonio Calixto, and former Laguna Vice Governor Edwin Olivares.
Pangasinan Rep. Victor Agbayani, North Cotabato Rep. Bernardo Piñol, Jr., Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza of Pangasinan, and Cavite Gov. Erineo “Ayong” Malicsi have also joined the party, as well as hundreds of local executives from all over the country.
The Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), a regional political party based in Cebu City, had also thrown its support for the Aquino-Roxas 2010 tandem.
Popular television host and actor Cesar Montano, who has been named as Philippine Ambassador to the Unesco by President Arroyo, has left the administration and joined the Liberal Party. He has been designated as LP provincial chairman and would be pitted against incumbent Gov. Erico Aumentado in the Bohol gubernatorial contest.
