Seventeen incumbent and former local government officials on Tuesday officially joined the Nacionalista Party (NP), taking oath before former senator Bongbong Marcos ahead of the 2019 midterm elections.
The officials led by Board Members Tomas Abapo and Gloria Gementiza were sworn in as members of the NP at the Dao Diamond Hotel in Tagbilaran City.
Incumbent mayors, vice mayors and town councilors also took oath before Marcos, including the following:
- Mayor Ronald Lowell of Buenavista
- Mayor Casey Shaun Camacho of Getafe
- Mayor Jacinto Naraga of San Isidro
- Mayor Rene Borenaga of Bien Unido
- Vice Mayor Arturo Piollo II of Lila
- Vice Mayor Adonis Roy Olalo of Balilihan
- Vice Mayor Romeo Balangkig of Baclayon
- Vice Mayor Pedro Garcia of Talibon
- Vice Mayor Velden Aparicio of Clarin
- Councilor Aya Montero of Panglao
- Councilor Noel Hormachuelos of Panglao
- Councilor Ongie Lim of Mabini
Dismissed Panglao mayor Nila Montero who has been perpetually disqualified from holding public office also joined the oath-taking ceremony along with former mayors Alvin Uy of Baclayon and Samuel Rebosura of Antequera.
Joemar Unabia, president of the Marcos Loyalist Movement in Bohol, Donglee Camacho and other perceived political aspirants were also sworn in as members of the NP.
Marcos welcomed the new NP members lauding their decision to join the party and calling for solidarity within the organization.
According to Marcos, the NP remains independent from the ruling party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, despite their alliance.
The NP is still accepting new members but aspirants will have to go through the party’s membership committee, he said.
Marcos who has recently reaffirmed his unwillingness to run for a seat in Senate in the 2019 polls was in Bohol Tuesday also as the guest of honor during the Saulog street dancing competition in Tagbilaran City. (rt)