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Isabela Lakas-Kampi merger in the works

ILAGAN, Isabela -- Politics is heating in this country’s third largest province with less than two years to go before election time with merging of two of the pro-administration political parties n the works for election war against the still politically potent Dy forces here of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and the group of incumbent Gov. Grace Padaca of the Liberal Party.

Rep. Edwin Uy, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) chairman here, said their joining forces here with the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) was in line with moves of national party leaders supportive of President Arroyo to form a potent and dominant party in time for the 2010 elections.

“This is what the national leadership wants -- for us to merge as one party,” said Uy of the province’s second congressional district. “But this will take place only when there is no conflict in the local level.”

“We wanted to have a potent force (by joining our forces). It’s good for us to win the majority in the province,” said Santiago City Mayor Amelita Navarro of the Lakas-CMD.

Since the 2004 elections, the Lakas-CMD here had formed a tactical alliance with Padaca’s LP, which was broadened and strengthened during the 2007 elections when the Albanos, who belong to Kampi, also shifted their support to Padaca over the Dys, ending an almost four-decade political partnership.

But this time around, Padaca may not be able to rely on the support of Lakas-CMD or Kampi here as the two parties move to merge and form a “super-party” in the province.

“As much as possible, we will try to maintain the equity of the incumbent and if there is any conflict it would be treated as a special case,” said Uy, one of those who bankrolled Padaca’s two successful gubernatorial bids.

But sources from both parties said that with the merger of Lakas and Kampi, whatever agreements may have been made between Padaca and Uy would become “null and void.”

“Once the merging is formalized, either Uy or Reyes for the Lakas side would have to slug it out with either Congressman (Rodolfo) Albano III or Tonypet Albano, sons of former Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Rodolfo Albano Jr., from the Kampi side, for the governorship post,” the source said.

The Lakas-Kampi bet for the governorship would then have to slug it out with Padaca for a possible third gubernatorial term, and a candidate from the NPC, either third-term Rep. Faustino Dy III or his brother Alicia town Mayor Napoleon Dy, both sons of the late Faustino Dy Sr., this province’s longest-serving governor.

“The Dys are still a potent political force in the province and anyone of them (Rep. Dy or Mayor Dy) who runs for the governorship under the NPC has a very good chance of regaining the said post,” said fourth district Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, an NPC stalwart. – CL