Coalition of Northern Samar political parties sealed

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas has formally sealed a local coalition of two political groups in the province which slugged it out in the last local elections in 2013.

Northern Samar Second District Rep. Emil L. Ong said Roxas’ visit here last Friday to personally convey the 3-million cash prize which came with Northern Samar’s being awarded the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s Seal of Good Housekeeping “also sealed the local coalition between our National Unity Party (NUP) and the ruling Liberal Party (LP) in the national and local elections in 2016.”

Roxas was recently endorsed the LP’s standard bearer by LP chair, President Aquino, who chairs the ruling party.

Ong said although there was no formal signing in the formation of the local coalition, “it was agreed that with the NUP and LP’s coalescing, both parties will be fielding bets which will be running unopposed in various positions and with the coalition following the equity of the incumbent rule.”

He added that Roxas had explained the advantages of “having a local coalition composed of political leaders from opposed groups setting aside their own political ambitions while working for the development of our impoverished province.”

Ong said former House Deputy Speaker Raul A. Daza of the LP who lost in the 2013 elections to Rep. Harlin C. Abayon by a mere 32 votes will be running again in the first district while he will be running unopposed for the governorship of Northern Samar while incumbent Gov. Jose Ong run for second district congressman, likewise unrivaled.

“With the formation of this local coalition, we are now united and one in endorsing the presidential bid of Secretary Roxas in next year’s elections,” said Ong.