BAGUIO CITY – The groundswell in the presidential bid of Vice President Jejomar Binay was further boosted today with the formal declaration of support made by incumbent Ifugao Governor Dennis B. Habawel, a member of the Nacionalista Party.
Habawel declared his support for Binay, in a press conference, saying the standard bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance is the most qualified to respond to various local concerns, including problems on poverty, hunger, education and health care for the ordinary citizens. “It was not difficult for me to make the decision to help Vice President Binay capture Malacanang because he is one of our own. He will be the first President, God willing, who will come from the ranks of the indigenous People’s (IP’s) group,” the governor pointed out.
For his part, Atty. JV Bautista, secretary general of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) thanked Gov. Habawel for making the early decision of joining Vice President Binay. He told Baguio City based media men that Habawel will be adopted as official UNA candidate. As such, Gov. Habawel will be entitled to the rights and privileges of the official candidates of UNA, which is expecting to get the accreditation as the dominant minority party.
Habawel also stressed that among the presidential candidates only Binay has the heart to listen to the concerns of ordinary citizens. “Additionally, this is also our way of expressing our deepest gratitude to the Binay family as his grandmother served for a long time as public school teacher in a far-flung barangay called Magulon in Mayoyao town,” he added.
Cicero Lumauig, UNA Provincial Coordinator for Ifugao, said that eight out of 11 incumbent mayors are with Gov. Habawel. They are Mayors Ronnie Lumayna, Mayoyao; Gerry Dalipog, Banawe; Gaspar Chilagan, Aguinaldo; Marcelino Catalino, Tinok; Martin Habawel,Jr., Lagawe; Mariano Buyagawon, Lamut; Gerry Luglug, Hingyon; and Hilario Bumangabang, Hungduan. The governor also said that in the Municipality of Lagawe the contenders incumbent Vice Mayor Habawel and Gadfrey Duminong of UNA, are both supporting VP Binay, and the mayoralty candidate Eladio Bang-ud is supporting VP Binay in Asipulo.
“A Mayor in Alfonso Lista, Arsenio Humiding, of the CPLA, is also being adopted by UNA and because of this development Binay is assured of an overwhelming victory in Ifugao province,” Lumauig also added.
Both Habawel and Bautista have revealed that another governor from the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) who is expected to join UNA in the next few days and that this will also be announced in Baguio City.
“Clearly, there is now a snowballing trend from the ranks of incumbent local officials that is developing into a surge of support for Binay. First to stand up and face media in Cebu City to declare support for Binay and UNA was Southern Leyte Vice Gov. Sheffered Tan and No. 1 Board Member Albert Esclamado. Bothe are now UNA candidates for governor and vice governor, respectively, Bautista said.
He added that UNA is set to make a big announcement next week in Cebu City that will complete the dominance of UNA in the top 3 vote rich provinces of the country. More announcements will be made during the campaign period as incumbents from the Liberal Party, NPC, NUP and others shifting loyalty to UNA and support for Binay.
By Dexter A. See
