20 Romblon local execs, bets join NP

20 Romblon local execs, bets join NP

By ROLLY T. CARANDANG

April 20, 2010, 3:26pm

Twenty local officials and candidates of Romblon province led by incumbent Gov. Natalio Beltran Tuesday abandoned the Lakas-Kampi CMD party and joined the Nacionalista Party (NP) headed by Senator Manny Villar in what the NP officials described as another step that would enhance the victory of Villar and the NP ticket in the May 2010 polls.

Beltran, his entire slate composed of his running mate Rolindo Perez and 17 of his candidates and Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona were formally welcomed Tuesday by Villar during a brief ceremony at the NP headquarters at Star Mall in Mandaluyong City.

Beltran and his entire slate vowed to give their all-out support to the tandem of Villar and his running mate Senator Loren Legarda and the NP senatorial ticket.

They were the latest batch of political leaders who shifted their support to Villar, who in turn expressed elation over the turn of events, saying this is a good sign that he and his partymates would win in the May 2010 polls.

The incumbent mayors are Mayor Gerard S. Montojo of Romblon; Mayor Nicasio Ramos of Cajidiocan; Mayor Emmanuel F. Madrona of San Agustin; Mayor Ibarra Manzala of Magdiwang; Mayor Nanet Tansingco of San Fernando; Mayor Jory Faderanga of Banton; Mayor Asher Visca of Sta. Fe; Mayor Jason Fabila of Ferrol; Mayor Eddie Mazo of Corcuera and Mayor Filipino Tandog of San Jose.
The mayoral candidates who shifted support to NP are Geminiano Galicia of San Andres; Leila Arboleda of Looc; Elmer Fortu of Calatrava; Roger Fodra of Odiongan; Adrian Feudo of Concepcion; and Artemio Madrid of Sta. Maria; and Eddie Lota of Alcantara.

Aside from these top local officials and candidates, a total of 17 bets for vice mayor and 136 candidates for councilor in Romblon are also carrying the NP banner. “We are confident that more and more of our local officials will shift support to the Nacionalista Party. With the rate of local officials supporting our slate, we predict V-Day on election day for the NP,” Villar said.