Bataoil joins leaders jumping to LP
L LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — It’s a big leap taken by a whole bunch of leaders from La Union and now Representative Leopoldo N. Bataoil is making the same move to the Liberal Party (LP).
From the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Bataoil told the Manila Bulletin yesterday that he has joined other leaders in Region 1 jumping over to the LP.
“My belief in the party principles and advocacies, the welfare of my constituents and the future of my district are my primordial considerations in my selection of party affiliation. I hope and pray that our district will continue to benefit from the many services rendered by this administration,” read Bataoil’s text message about his decision of transferring parties.
Last month, eight mayors of the NPC in the 1st District of La Union and one independent mayor took their oath as members of the LP before Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric D. Singson, LP regional chairman, in Candon City.
Last Monday, they took their oath as new LP members before Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, LP president, at the LP Headquarters in Quezon City with LP standard bearer and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte as witnesses.
They were Mayor Orlando Balloguing of Pugo, Mayor Ruben Valero of San Juan, Mayor Joy Pinzon-Merin of Bangar, Provincial Board Member Francisco Ortega, San Fernando City Mayor Pablo C. Ortega, Board Member Bellarmin Flores Sr., and Mayor Francisco Fontanilla of Bacnotan.
Apart from Bataoil, at least seven other members of the House have joined the LP: House Deputy Minority Leader Carol Lopez of You Against Corruption party-list; Rep. Ana Go of Isabela (Nacionalista Party); Rep. Philip Pichay of Surigao; Rep. Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte; Rep. Fredercik Abueg of Palawan; Rep. Catherine Barcelona Reyes of Camarines Norte (National Union Party); Rep. Magtanggol Guniguindo of Valenzuela City (Lakas-CMD). (Liezle Basa Iñigo)