SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines – Eight mayors of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the first district of La Union and one independent mayor took their oath as members of the Liberal Party (LP) in Candon City, Ilocos Sur last Friday.
Rep. Eric Singson, LP regional chairman, spearheaded the oath-taking of the mayors led by San Fernando City Mayor Pablo Ortega, a former LP member who became independent in 2013 after his nomination was allegedly blocked by a party official.
Those who bolted the NPC were Balaoan town Mayor Al-Fred Concepcion, Luna Mayor Vic Marron, former Bangar mayor George Pinzon who represented his daughter Mayor Joy Pinzon-Merin and Mayor Wendy Joy Buquing of Sudipen town.
The three other mayors who were sworn in were San Juan Mayor Ruben Valero, Santol Mayor Daisy Sayangda and San Gabriel Mayor Divina Daligues-Velasco.
Bacnotan town Mayor Francis Fontanilla, who also filed his LP membership, failed to attend the oath-taking due to official business.
“We are in the process of strengthening our party in preparation for the upcoming elections,” Singson said.
Ortega, who declared his congressional bid in the first district of the province, said they will intensify the recruitment of LP members in the local level to strengthen their group that will support candidates in the national level.
“If we have bigger numbers and members, then we will have a bigger voice to our party leaders,” Ortega said.