Ecija gov denies opposing moves to make Cabanatuan a district

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali yesterday denied reports attributed to him that he is also against the conversion of Cabanatuan into a lone congressional district or into an independent component city, apart from his objecting to a highly urbanized city. “What I am strictly against is the conversion into HUC of Cabanatuan because I could no longer serve Cabanatueños. But with regard to a lone congressional district or as an independent component city, I am open to discussions,” he said.

Umali was reacting to earlier published reports that he was not only opposing the HUC but also similar proposals to create a congressional district or to upgrade the city into an independent component city.

He said his press statement seemed to have been taken out of context. “What I exactly said was that I am against HUC but not Cabanatuan’s conversion into a lone congressional district, or into an independent component city. The words “but not into” were inadvertently omitted from my official statement,” he said.

Umali said because of this reportorial lapse, Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara who is lobbying for HUC, pounced on it and made it appear he was anti-progress for supposedly opposing the three proposals.

Umali earlier criticized Vergara for the latter’s alleged unstatesmanlike conduct for claiming he was just trying to annoy the governor’s camp in pushing for the conversion of the city into a HUC.

He said Vergara’s antics are uncalled for, unprofessional and inappropriate, considering that the issue at hand is highly significant because it involves the welfare of Novo Ecijanos and Cabanatueños, and the latter’s freedom to choose their provincial governor.

Umali and Vergara have been at odds since October over the HUC bid. The plan, which will be ratified in a plebiscite has also divided their own political allies and supporters.