Free zones drawn between LP, allies

MANILA, Philippines - The so-called free zones have been drawn between the administration’s Liberal Party (LP) and its coalition allies, Nacionalista Party (NP) and Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and this includes vote-rich provinces where local alliances seem to be a free-for-all.

In its team up with NPC, the party founded by President Aquino’s uncle Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., lines have clearly been drawn declaring the vote-rich provinces of Pangasinan and Negros Occidental as free zones.

This was confirmed by NPC spokesman and Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian, who also said two other provinces in Mindanao – Sulu (with two districts) and the lone district of Tawi-Tawi – belong to areas not covered by the LP-NPC alliance.

The main reason why Pangasinan – which has six districts like Negros Occidental – is considered a free zone is because re-electionist Gov. Amado Espino (NPC) will be pitted against Alaminos City Mayor Nani Braganza (LP), who is eyeing the gubernatorial post.

The third district of Camarines Sur may also be another free zone in light of the recent decision of lawyer Leni Robredo, wife of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, to join the congressional race.

Robredo is representing LP while her rival Nelly Villafuerte, wife of Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, belongs to NPC. Luis is on his third and last term as congressman.

Gatchalian said they have two senatorial candidates running under their party, re-electionist Sen. Loren Legarda and Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile. He said they have 80 congressmen, 30 governors and 25 mayors for the next year’s polls.

The NPC spokesman, now on his second term, will be seeking Valenzuela City’s mayoral post which will be vacated by his brother, three-term Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, who will be swapping the legislative post with him.

As for the NP, headed by Sen. Manny Villar, among those deemed to be named free zones are the vote-rich provinces of Cavite and Cebu including Dinagat Islands in Mindanao.

In Cavite, incumbent Rep. Ireneo “Ayong” Maliksi of LP will seek the gubernatorial post against incumbent Vice Gov. Jonvic Remulla of NP.

In Dinagat, Rep. Glenda Ecleo (NP) will be slugging it out with Gov. Jade Ecleo (LP), sources said, citing the odd political landscape in the province, where Glenda’s son, sacked Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr., was even convicted of parricide for killing his wife Alona Bacolod.

NP has five candidates for senator running in the 2013 midterm elections, 30 for congressman, 10 for provincial governor and more than 200 for local chief executive or mayor.

Presidential adviser for political affairs Secretary Ronald Llamas disclosed that LP’s problem with vote-rich Cebu province is limited to the gubernatorial race where their candidate Hilario Davide III is pitted against that of the National Unity Party (NUP).

Davide, son of retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., will be pitted with the lawmaker brother of incumbent three-term Gov. Gwen Garcia – incumbent Rep. Pablo John Garcia – who represents NUP which the administration party has coalesced with.

The younger Davide lost his gubernatorial bid to Gwen in the May 20120 polls.

Llamas said he is not yet very sure whether the six-district Cebu province will be among the areas that will be covered by free zones.

Re-electionist Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, who sits as NUP chairman, said such problems would be ironed out soon.

Meanwhile, two other sources hinted that the provinces of Zamboanga and Quezon, each with four legislative districts, may also be included in the free zones. And this may also include Tacloban City, where LP and NPC candidates abound.

House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danny Suarez, who is now on his third and last term as congressman, said the province may not be declared a free zone, but only if President Aquino makes true his promise of allowing them to run unopposed.