LP, UNA, PMP bets unite in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines - Politicians from the administration’s Liberal Party (LP) and opposition parties United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) forged an alliance Wednesday night to push the candidacy of Caloocan City’s top three local officials.

They formed a new local political party, Tao ang Una.

District 2 Rep. Edgar Erice and Councilor Gonzalo Dale Malapitan led councilors from LP, Mayor Oscar Malapitan and some councilors represented UNA while Vice Mayor Macario Asistio III represented PMP during the oath-taking ceremony.

Former congressman Luis “Baby” Asistio, former congresswoman Aurora Henson, former mayor Rey Malonzo and former vice mayor Tito Varela were present during the ceremony.

The new party will face District 1 Rep. Enrico Echiverri, an LP stalwart, who will reportedly run for mayor. He ran for congressman in 2013 after he ended his third term as mayor.

He was seen at the oath-taking of new members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, which supported the presidential bid of Sen. Grace Poe, last month. He declined then to categorically say whether he was joining the NPC, saying he was just invited to the event.

Echiverri was one of the first Lakas-CMD members who bolted the party to join the LP in 2009 to support the presidential campaign of President Aquino, who was then senator.

The Commission on Elections approved Tao ang Una as a local political party on Sept. 18.