A vice governor allied with Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s Liberal Party (LP) has deserted his group and joined the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

At least 240 other officials and aspirants from Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Pangasinan, Quirino, Ifugao, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac also took oath as NP members.

Cagayan Vice Governor Odi Fausto, a long-time LP member and former president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Cagayan, is seeking reelection in the May, 2010 elections.

Fausto, along with three other vice governors, took their oath before Villar during the NP’s rites at the Laurel House on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

Those who joined Fausto were Ramil Hernandez of Laguna, Windell Chua of Ilocos Norte, and Pasencia “Pasing” Bacani of Quirino.

Hernandez, who is from the United Opposition (UNO), is eyeing a gubernatorial post. He took oath with his prospective running mate for the vice gubernatorial position, Los Baños Mayor Caesar Perez, Hernandez’s wife Councilor Ruth Hernandez, and aspirant for board member celebrity Angelica Jones. “I strongly identify with Senator Villar’s beginnings and share his advocacy of fighting the menace of poverty in the country,” said the Laguna vice-governor who rose from poverty like Villar, working his way to college at Letran in Laguna where he finished his accountancy degree.

Chua, on the other hand, is from Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and was accompanied by Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who had earlier graced the Partido Magdalo Convention in Cavite that had decided to coalesce with NP to support Villar’s presidential bid.

Bacani was a former member of the administration’s Kabalikat ng Masang Pilipino (Kampi) party.

Only recently, four governors from Lakas-CMD defected to the NP. They were Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr., Biliran Gov. Rogelio “Roger” Espina, Davao del Sur Douglas “Dodo” Cagas, and Surigao del Norte Robert Ace Barbers.

In response to the defection of the four vice governors, Villar said, “Your show of support strengthens our resolve to address the ills of poverty plaguing our people. Alleviating this is our topmost concern.” Villar also underscored the need for leadership, managerial ability, and experience as the bases for electing the next leader who will be facing a deepening budget deficit among a myriad of problems.