LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Former Pangasinan 5th District Rep. Mark Cojuangco, who chairs the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in Pangasinan and Region 1, said over the weekend that the NPC’s local leaders and six congressmen in the province are still supporting Governor Amado T. Espino and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. in their reelection bids. In a meeting at his house, Cojuangco confirmed the support of six incumbent congressmen – Jesus Celeste (1st District), Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District), Rachel Arenas (3rd District), Kimi Cojuangco (5th District) and Marlyn Agabas (6th District), together with Abono Partylist Chairman Rosendo So and former Cong. Conrado Estrella III. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

CAVITE TANDEM

KAWIT, Cavite — Incumbent Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. and 2nd District (Bacoor) Board Member Ramon “Jolo” Revilla III have officially announced their 2013 gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial bids during a rally last week. The rally, attended by national and local political leaders and a throng of supporters from seven districts of Cavite, came only a day after President Aquino proclaimed former Governor-now-3rd District (Imus) Representative Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi and newcomer Ronald Jay Lacson, a son of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, as candidates of Liberal Party for the province’s top two positions on September 25. (Anthony Giron)

RE-ELECTIONIST

SARIAYA, Quezon — Thousands of supporters, leaders, and all 43 village chiefs and councilmen rallied yesterday behind Mayor Rosauro “Boyet” Masilang as he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection. Also accompanying Masilang were his vice Mayor Heidi Medina-Caringal and eight councilors under the banner of the Liberal Party (LP). This municipality has the second biggest voting population in the province, based on the National Statistics Office (NSO) survey of 2010 with 64,000 registered voters. (Danny Estacio)

PINEDA ALLIES

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Some 7,000 members and officers of Kapanalig at Kambilan ding Memalen Pampanga (Allies and Defenders of the Citizens of Pampanga) or Kambilan, a local political party  in this province announced yesterday their endorsement of Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda in her reelection bid. They also expressed support for her son, former Lubao Mayor Dennis “Delta” Pineda’s, for vice governor. (Franco G. Regala)

‘BARKADAHAN’ BETS

ANGONO, Rizal — A festive atmosphere typical of some scenes in a town fiesta with a marching brass band roaming the street, marked the first day of filing of the certificate of candidacy of a group of local candidates in this lakeshore town of the province. Candidates of the “Barkadahan ng Masa”, a coalition of some five political parties first assembled in Barangay Sto. Niño before marching to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office, here. Re-electionist Mayor Gerardo “Gerry” Calderon and his running mate, Antonio “Sonny” Rubin, led the Barkadahan ng Masa candidates in filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs). Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)-Angono Secretary General Rey Tan Coalition identified the bets for councilor as Lawrence “Chic” Natividad; Gino Miranda; Bernie Blanco-Guir; Januver Tiamson; Lito Manalaysay; Sherwin Lagaya; Jo-Anne Saguinsin; and Elmer Deloritos. (Nel B. Andrade)