Bulacan governor, 21 mayors bolt Lakas-CMD

MALOLOS CITY – Bulacan Gov. Josie Dela Cruz and 21 local mayors bolted the administration coalition party Lakas-CMD and endorsed board member Joselito Mendoza as their gubernatorial bet on Saturday.

Mendoza, the younger brother of Dela Cruz, told The STAR in a telephone interview that they will take oath under President Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Makabayang Pilipino (Kampi) party today.

Mendoza, who was endorsed by the same group of mayors last December, said they chose Kampi because it gives a voice to local officials.

Mendoza said he will continue the projects left uncompleted by his sister. These include the multi-billion peso Bulacan Bulk Water project that will provide drinking water to 10 towns in the province identified as having critical ground water supply.

Another uncompleted project that Dela Cruz will leave to her brother is the Bulacan North Food Exchange and the Information Technology Park established at Marilao town where call center facilities will be established.

Mendoza also boasted that their group has a complete slate from governor to municipal councilors.

The mayors who joined Dela Cruz in bolting Lakas-CMD are led by Mayor Ambrosio Cruz, the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Bulacan chapter. 

The others were Mayors Felix Ople of Hagonoy, Donato Marcos of Paombong, James de Jesus of Calumpit, Elpidio Castillo of Pulilan, Romeo Estrella of Baliuag, Edgardo Galvez of San Ildefonso, Roderick Tiongson (acting mayor of San Miguel town), Leonardo De Leon of Angat, Evelyn Paulino of Donya Remedios Trinidad, Matilde Legzapi of Norzagaray, Jesus Mateo of Sta. Maria, Efipanio Guillermo of Marilao, Serafin Dela Cruz of Bocaue, Reynaldo Castro of Balagtas, Ma. Elizabeth Villegas of Bulakan, Oliver Andres of Pandi, Carlito Reyes of Bustos, Anastacia Vistan of Plaridel, Danilo Domingo of the City of Malolos, and Eduardo Alarilla of Meycauayan City.

Only one city mayor and two municipal mayors in Bulacan did not join the breakaway group. They are Mayors Lito Sarmiento of San Jose Del Monte City, Zoilito Santiago of Obando and Ricardo Silverio of San Rafael.

Santiago told The STAR that he is staying with the party of former Gov. Roberto Pagdanganan and Rep. Reylina Nicolas of the province’s fourth congressional district.

For the Silverios, Rep. Lorna Silverio, wife of Mayor Ricardo Silverio, told The STAR that they remain loyal to Dela Cruz but they made it clear from the beginning that they will not leave Lakas if ever the governor decides to move to another party. 

The breakaway group is also expected to take with them incumbent provincial board members Pacifico Aniag, Rolando Mendoza, Patrocinio Laderas, Antoniette Trinidad, Ernesto Sulit, Enrique Viudez, Glenn Santos, Enrique Delos Santos, and Primitivo Tamayo.