Vizcaya Congress race most closely watched in C. Valley

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The battle for this province’s lone congressional seat is the most closely watched in the Cagayan Valley region.

This year, the tight contest between former police general Thompson Lantion of the Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats) and outgoing Gov. Rodolfo Agbayani of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) is worth watching.

An added attraction is the last-minute entry of former OIC-governor Ruth Padilla, wife of three-term Rep. Carlos Padilla, the lone senatorial candidate of independent presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Despite his being a political neophyte, Lantion has the support of the mayors of three vote-rich towns — Solano, Bayombong and Bagabag.

Three other mayors, who used to be with Agbayani’s camp, are also reportedly backing the former police general’s congressional bid.

Lantion’s chances of winning are bolstered by the support of local Lakas-CMD stalwarts and the personal endorsements of President Arroyo and Speaker Jose de Venecia.

"We have to mobilize all our efforts, all our energies and resources to ensure the victory of Gen. Lantion," said De Venecia, who once lived here during his father’s stint as provincial fiscal.

"The general is now the emerging political leader of Cagayan Valley. We have to give him a chance," he said.

On the other hand, Agbayani’s hope to snatch the congressional seat lies heavily on his performance as governor for 12 years. His drumbeaters said he was the "best governor this province ever had."

Provincial administrator Virgilio Tiongson, one of the governor’s chief political strategists, cited the numerous awards and honors the province received during Agbayani’s incumbency, including its being a Hall of Famer for peace and order and a consistent "Galing Pook" awardee.

Lantion’s camp, however, just laughed off the awards, saying they were all "doctored."

"The number of awards does not reflect the real situation in the province," said board member Patricio Dumlao Jr., son of the late provincial governor.

"We don’t need more of (these awards and honors). We need more food on the table and not awards on the wall. We need more jobs for our thousands of jobless provincemates, roads for our inaccessible villages, water for our waterless farms and genuine peace and order, not on paper," said human rights lawyer Ernesto Salun-at, the Lakas-CMD gubernatorial candidate.

Not to be counted out in the congressional race, however, is Padilla’s wife who is considered the "dark horse."

Mrs. Padilla, national president of the Philippine Nurses Association, relies on the local political machinery of her husband, who still enjoys immense popularity.

Their political rivals, however, doubt if Padilla’s local political party will turn in votes for his wife.

The entry of Lantion, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1969, has dramatically changed the local political landscape which used to be dominated by the Agbayanis and the Padillas.

Lantion and Agbayani are both from this vote-rich capital town. However, Agbayani, a former judge, has no mayors supporting him, while Mrs. Padilla has the backing of nine of Nueva Vizcaya’s 15 mayors.