CATARMAN Northern Samar- This province biggest and closest rivals have forged alliance. For the first time.
Not necessarily to ensure progress of one of the country’s poorest provinces but to make sure that would- be presidential candidate, Mar Roxas, will win at least in their province.
During a radio interview over local radio station DySM, Rep. Emil Ong and his nemeses, former congressman Raul Daza, publicly made it known that after decades of political enmity, they are now one.
The two veteran politicians described their alliance for 2016 elections as “principle of coalition.”
During the 2013 elections, Ong was instrumental in the defeat of the Dazas, long-time kingpin of the province.
Daza was trounced by Ong’s ally, Harlin Abayon for the province’s first congressional district while his son, Paul who was then the incumbent governor, was defeated by Ong’s younger brother, Jose.
Daza won on his third bid as congressman of Northern Samar’s second congressional district against Rap Nielsen Uy, a Daza ally.
Both Daza and Ong admitted that their coalition-their first ever after years of fight on political supremacy in the province- was anchored on ensuring Roxas poll victory.
While Daza is a stalwart of the ruling Liberal Party which anointed Roxas as its standard-bearer, Ong’s National Unity Party (NUP) has a coalition agreement with the LP.
The NUP, with Ong acting as Eastern Visayas regional chairman, is composed of allies of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Arroyo is now facing multiple charges filed by the administration of Pres. Aquino.
Daza said that this is the best chance for the Visayas, to include Northern Samar, to produce a President as he noted that all the past seven presidents of the country were from Luzon.
Roxas is from Western Visayas.
Meantime, Rep. Ong will change places with his brother Jose as he will run for Northern Samar’s governor with Jose seeking to replace him as congressman in the second district.
Daza will run again in the first district in next year’s election with the political future of his son, Paul, remain uncertain.
Both Ong and Daza are hopeful that Rep. Abayon will also make his own move and sacrifice for the betterment of the province and ensure their poll victory in 2016 elections.
