This, amid the spectre of escalating violence in the province known to be a perennial election hotspot.
Former 4th District Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, who opted to run for governor under the United Nationalists Alliance (UNA) against 2013 ally 3rd Distrit Rep. Czarina Umali, reunited with the family of former Gov. Tomas Joson III of Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane). He filed his COC with former 1st District Rep. Josefina Joson whose husband, former Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson, is known to be the closest friend of former Jaen town Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel.
The in-fighting between Antonino and Esquivel went beyond politics in the run-up of the 2007 elections when their camps engaged in a shootout which resulted to the killing of a policeman and three other people from the latter’s side. Two sons of Esquivel were also wounded in the incident which police considered as an election-related violence (ERV).
Esquivel is now running anew for Jaen mayor against Sylvia Austria, the wife of incumbent Mayor Santiago Austria (Liberal Party) and Antonino’s protégé Vice Mayor Norman Velarde. Austria and Velarde used to be allies with Antonino.
Gov. Aurelio Umali who is running for third district representative vice his wife, incumbent Rep. Umali, is facing a fight with former ally, businesswoman Rossana Vergara, wife of Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara of this city.
Umali’s camp opted to field Barangay Barlis Chair Ramon Garcia against Mayor Vergara of this city instead of the governor’s younger brother, former Board Member Anthony Umali. The younger Umali instead runs for vice mayor.
Both Vergara and Umali belonged to the LP, with the former as the first elected LP official here, thus records from the Comelec showed Mrs. Vergara filed her COC under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and the younger Umali’s team under the local Partido ng Unang Sigaw.
The family of the late 2nd District Rep. Elueterio Violago suffered a big blow after his eldest son, Lito, decided to run against his sister-in-law, Micaela, wife of incumbent Rep. Joseph Violago.
“Hindi kami nag-aaway, pareho lang naming gustong tumakbo,” Lito said after filing his COC at the Comelec provincial office here. He claimed that most of his family members, including their mother, support him against the in-law.
In Penaranda town, residents were surprised upon learning that Vice Mayor Fermin Francisco is now challenging the re-election of Mayor Ferdinand Abesamis. The two officials used to be so strong as allies that every corner of the town hall was marked BFF which stands for Blueboy and Fermin Forever.
On peace and order and Comelec control, Antonino said he leaves the decision on the wisdom of the poll body.
“If it may deem it necessary for Comelec control here which I believe na papunta na po tayo dun kasi kayo po siguro sa media are all aware that there is an escalating tendency of violence na nangyayari po sa ating lalawigan ngayon,” Antonino said.
Umali, in a press conferece after filing his COC, wondered why Antonino appears to be calling for Comelec control rather belatedly.
“Bakit ngayon ka lang nagtatawag? Bakit ngayon ka lang magsasabi na tatawagin mo ang Nueva Ecija ay magkaroon ng Comelec control samantalang ikaw mismo, in one of the incidents, ikaw ang involved in a violent incident in Nueva Ecija?” the governor asked claiming that he has been consistent in that call since he first entered politics.
“I am very consistent, when I was governor I twice requested for Comelec control not because I do not trust the people of Nueva Ecija but precisely to establish the message that even if I am the governor I will not allow kahit na ang mga kasamahan ko na magkaroon ng pagmamalabis,” he said.
Emerging from the Comelec office, Mrs. Vergara expressed concern when asked by the media on the current peace and order in the province, particularly in the third district.
“Nalulungkot ako. Nalulungkot ako dahil hindi ko akalain na babalik itong karaharasan. Pero ako’y naniniwala na hindi tayo pababayaan ng Panginoon,” Vergara said.
She expressed belief that everyone who seeks a government position is imbued with noble intention.
“So ako’y nananawagan sa mga taong gumagamit ng karahasan na hindi ito ang tamang daan, na dapat bigyan nila ang tao ng boses at karapatan na mamili nang maayos,” she added.
Antonino earlier expressed alarm over the supposed surge of political violence since 2013. Antonino has cited the murders of Rodrigo Miranda, chair of Barangay Sto. Tomas, Aliaga; Romeo Linsangan, chair of Sta. Isabel, Cabiao; Mario Trillana, chair of Barangay Bagong Sikat, Cabiao; Noel Gamboa, municipal accountant of Cabiao, Rodante Garcia and ex-councilor Antoni de Sahagun, chair and ex-councilman of San Bartolome, San Leonardo; Herminigildo Edurado, chair of Dampulan, Jean; and Roger Pascual, chair of Camp Tinio this city.
Antonino also noted attempts to assassinate Linsangan’s successor Rogelio Cunanan, Gapan City councilor Danilo de Guzman and Penaranda Councilors Armando Abiog and Wilfredo Abesamis.
Last September, Barangay Chair Cesar Baltazar of Gen. Luna here was killed in front of his family, including his 89-year-old mother, by unidentified riding-in-tandem while Chair Apolonio dela Cruz of Baragay Talipapa survived a separate gun attack in Sta. Rosa town a few days after.
But the governor hit back on Antonino by citing incidents where the latter’s name was dragged. These, aside from the Esquivel shooting incident, were the alleged “raid” on the residence of former Rep. Nicanor de Guzman to whom he lost in 1988 and that of now Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos shortly before the 2007 congressional elections.
Umali also said most of the names mentioned by Antonino were actually his supporters.
Sources revealed that a total of 257 killings – involving murders and homicides – transpired in Nueva Ecija from January 1 to Sep. 7, 2015.
This means that 257 were killed in 250 days for an average of more than one killing per day.
Nueva Ecija police director, Senior Supt. Manuel Cornel said he is not privy to the said data as he assumed post only on July 8.
He earlier said attacks on political personalities would not automatically mean they are politically motivated. “They maybe politicians but they have also personal activities,” Cornel has said.
Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin said he has met with Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio Bancud and other officials on Tuesday to set an early signing of a peace covenant among candidates.
