ANGELES CITY – Forty-two former barangay chairmen and 369 former barangay councilmen of this city have pledged their support for Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. in his bid for the first congressional district of Pampanga next year.
The former barangay officials expressed their support during a lunch meeting on July 4 at Century Hotel here where Lazatin announced his candidacy to them.
“Kerakalan pu kekayu malwat ku nang akayabe keng pamanyilbi keng balen Angeles,” Lazatin said. “Dening aliwa pu keni, akayabe na la pang tatang ku, i Cong Tarzan, at deng aliwa keni, sigurado, akayabe nala mu naman lolo ku, i Apung Feleng, keng pamanyilbi mu naman kening balen Angeles.”
“Bibye ku pu ing maragul kung kapasalamatan keng saup at suporta yu kanaku at keng kakung pamilya, lalo na po keng administrasyon,” he added.
Lazatin reiterated the core tenet of his legislative agenda – “no one will be left behind” — and assured the former barangay officials that he will endeavor to reach all sectors of society with his service.
“Ito po ang bibitawan kong pangako — sa aking paninilbihan, ‘no one will be left behind.’ Lahat ng sektor ng lipunan sa buong distrito ay aabutin ng ating serbisyo at paninilbihan,” he said.
Vice Mayor Ma. Vicenta “Vicky” Vega-Cabigting and incumbent councilors of Angeles City were also present during the gathering.
“Ikit ku pu nung makananun ya pung magobra i Cong Pogi. First, as a councilor — two terms, at ngeni pu, as mayor — two terms mu naman pu,” Vega-Cabigting said. “Ready ne pu because he started out as a legislator at ngeni pu, puntalan na pu bilang legislator na ning mumunang distritu ning Pampanga.”
It can be recalled that on June 28, Lazatin first declared his candidacy in front of some 1,800 guests at the Magalang Plaza, 856 of whom are incumbent barangay captains and barangay councilmen of the 1st District of Pampanga.
Lazatin’s June 28 declaration of candidacy is the biggest political event in the history of the Pampanga’s 1st District in terms of logistics and preparation to date and was attended by all the political leaders including Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda, incumbent 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II, Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, and Magalang Municipal Mayor Malu Lacson.
