Wycoco kin dip their hands into Nueva Ecija politics

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija — Relatives of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Reynaldo Wycoco have dipped their hands into local politics, taking the side of former three-term mayor Ireneo Manahan in his fight for the mayorship against his former protégé, re-electionist Mayor Gloria Congco.

Sources said the Wycoco clan, one of the most influential families here, have thrown their support behind Manahan who enlisted Wycoco’s younger brother, Jomar, as one of his councilor bets.

Jomar was presented to Manahan’s political leaders during an organizational meeting in his residence in Barangay Palasinan last week.

Jomar, a civil engineer, was accompanied by his brothers Catalino and Jojo, the youngest, who is also the chairman of Barangay Natividad North where the Wycocos live.

Jomar even gamely belted a song during the meeting and said afterwards: "Kahirap talagang kumuha ng boto (It’s hard to get votes)."

Other members of the Wycoco brood are Edgar, a police major assigned at the Western Police District (WPD), Willy and Nante, who has settled in London.

One of the sources said the NBI director, who used to be the Philippine National Police deputy chief for administration, excused himself from the campaign trail. His brother Edgar also distanced himself from the campaign to avoid being charged with electioneering.

"Bawal kasi sa kanila ’yon (They are prohibited from campaigning)," the source said.

The NBI director is close to both Manahan and Congco. An endorsement of support from him is deemed crucial in the two politicians’ respective campaigns.

Without the NBI director in the campaign trail, the source said the burden of campaigning for Jomar rests on the Wycoco patriarch, Pedro. — Manny Galvez