CABANATUAN CITY – Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali has formally joined the ruling Liberal Party of President Aquino, in the process reuniting with his erstwhile ally-turned-political rival, Cabanatuan Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara.
Umali was formally sworn in as LP member by LP president Mar Roxas in ceremonies at the party’s headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City recently. He was one of three governors who took their oaths, the others were North Cotabato Gov. Lala Talino-Mendoza and Quirino Gov. Junie Cua.
His entry into LP came eight months after some 1,640 political leaders of the Lakas-CMD in the province which he used to chair bolted and joined the LP.
Gladys Sta. Rita, LP National Directorate director general, confirmed Umali’s acceptance as a member.
She said that last month, the governor even personally attended a seminar on new LP members before taking his oath.
Umali’s entry into LP has practically made him its standard-bearer for governor in the 2013 elections, based on the equity of the incumbent rule. It also ended months of speculations on who between him and first district Rep. Josie Manuel-Joson would President Aquino accept in the LP.
Manuel-Joson, who announced her intention to run for governor, was reportedly being drafted in the LP.
She is known to be close to the President, dating back to their days as seatmates and “smoking buddies” in the House of Representatives.
Umali’s entry into LP reunites him with Vergara, and other LP stalwarts who went ahead of him such as Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos, second district Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago and the governor’s wife, third district Rep. Czarina Umali.
Former San Isidro Mayor Sonia Lorenzo, the incumbent LP provincial chairperson, said as early as the first week of July, the governor was already handpicked to join the ruling party.
However, his entry was delayed reportedly due to his falling-out with Vergara, Mr. Aquino’s classmate, who is pushing for the conversion of Cabanatuan into a highly urbanized city (HUC) which the governor is opposing.
The two have been locked in a protracted feud over the HUC bid which, if successful, will make the vote-rich city a separate political subdivision from the province, with Cabanatuenos no longer voting for provincial officials, including the post of governor.
The issue has polarized the Umali and Vergara camps whose powerful tandem ended in 2007 the 48-year rule of the Josons in the Capitol.
Sta. Rita said it took a while for the LP to accept the governor into its fold because of Vergara’s objections.
“Because of the problem with Jay (Vergara’s nickname), we have to iron it out first,” she said.
