NP gets Batangas grassroots support

Posted on | November 21, 2009 | No Comments

21 November 2009 – The Nacionalista Party (NP) headed by Sen. Manny Villar tightened its influence in Luzon as at least 200 grassroots leaders of Batangas formally joined the political party in a jampacked ceremony held in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

he oathtakers were led by former Gov. Armando Sanchez, 18 incumbent and aspiring mayors, 18 sitting and aspiring vice-mayors, and 140 incumbent and aspiring councilors who were mostly from Kampi.

“We welcome our fearless Batangueños to the Nacionalista Party, which is undeniably now the most stable, organized, and committed to the advocacy of fighting poverty suffered by most of our people,” Villar said.

Villar’s leadership is likewise exemplified in the way NP currently maintains its stability and strong organization, strategically widening its membership base.

The mayors underscored that they represented the genuine grassroots support of Batangueños, backing the leadership of Villar based on his sterling track record and achievements unmatched by other presidentiables.

The defection in Batangas came a day after the oppositionist Kilusang Bagong Lipunan led by Ilocos Norte (2nd district) Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. coalesced with NP, strengthening the party base in Northern Luzon.

Accompanying Villar in Batangas were Marcos, Rep. Justin “Timmy” Chipeco, former Rep. Gilbert Remulla, and Atty. Adel Tamano.

Sanchez was a two-term mayor of Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and one-term Batangas governor, when he also served as treasurer of the League of Provinces of the Philippines. An engineer by profession, he is married to Sto. Tomas Mayor Edna Sanchez, with whom he has three children. Among his projects during his term was the beautification of Batangas Capitol grounds. The governor facilitated the relocation of national government agencies and squatters who occupied a portion of the grounds.

Sanchez survived an assassination attempt on June 1, 2006 when he was able to get out of his Hummer H2 that exploded while he was boarding it. His driver and bodyguard was killed during the explosion.

Batangas, with a voting population of 1.2 million, is subdivided into 31 municipalities and three cities. The oath-taking turnout showed remarkably significant support for Villar’s NP among the opposition parties.

Comments