Ecija vice governor, Robin's brother seal tandem

CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines  – The highly anticipated showdown between the Umalis and the Josons in 2010 has been sealed after incumbent Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson and movie actor, Senior Board Member Rommel Padilla were proclaimed here Tuesday as the standard-bearer for governor and vice governor, respectively, of the Joson-led Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija.

Edward Thomas, son of former four-time governor Tomas Joson III and Padilla were named Balane’s bets to challenge the reelection bid of incumbent Gov. Aurelio Umali and his running mate, businessman Gay Padiernos of the Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago.

Edward Thomas, in accepting the party nomination to be the standard-bearer for governor, said that his decision to run against Umali is a fight of Novo Ecijanos who expected to receive the support and assistance of the incumbent governor but who went home frustrated and empty-handed because he (Umali) wasn’t there when they needed him most.

Fight for the poor

“My candidacy is a fight of many Novo Ecijanos who went to the provincial Capitol to seek the help of the incumbent but who were unable to see him because he was inaccessible. It is a fight of Novo Ecijanos who chanced upon him but could not enter the governor’s office because of red tape. And it is a fight for the poor and helpless people who brought with them medical receipts for health services but who were sadly turned away,” he said in Filipino.

He continued that the fight against Umali is also a campaign against the governor’s civil security unit, considered to be his private army and for the welfare of local government units which failed to get their just share of taxes from the quarrying operations of the provincial government.

Aside from Tomas III, Balane’s chairman emeritus, the proclamation was also graced by first district Rep. Eduardo Nonato, former vice governors Mariano Cristino and Eduardo IV, Mariano Cristino’s wife, comebacking former three-term congresswoman Josie Manuel-Joson; fourth district Rep. Rodolfo Antonino and board members and municipal mayors.

At a press conference, Edward Thomas said the decision to run for governor was a difficult one to make because he would have won hands-down a second term as vice governor. “It’s a risk for me because if I ran for reelection, I have a 60 to 70 percent chance of winning. But I decided to run for governor because I could no longer bear seeing Umali win a second and third term in the Capitol to the detriment of Novo Ecijanos,” he said.

Umali files COC

Meanwhile, Gov. Aurelio Umali and company filed their COCs under the newly-formed Unang Sigaw (Partido ng Pagbabago) in coalition with the ruling majority party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

In a short address before the formal filing of COCs, Umali stated that the newly-coalesced party stands for respect for the rule of law and order, participatory form of government, for utilization of people power, for pursuits of sustainable livelihood opportunities and attainment of progress and tranquility.

He called on progressive and peace-loving Novo Ecijanos to join their continuing crusade for change.