| PGMA’ visit merged Lakas, Kampi in Davao Sur |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre and Nilo Mercado | |
| Saturday, 21 June 2008 | |
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The recent visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Davao City resulted to the merging of Lakas and Kampi in Davao del Sur.
Governor Douglas Cagas, in a media interview admitted the merging of Lakas and Kampi political parties in Davao del Sur which is in accordance with the notion of its top leaders.
“So complying with the mandate of both KAMPI and LAKAS leadership, I accepted the fact that LAKAS and KAMPI are now merged in the province of Davao del Sur, even here in Region XI.”
“I must quantify the reports. The merger is only between Kampi and Lakas, notwithstanding the personalities involved here,” Cagas said as he explained that Second District House Representative Franklin Bautista won under Kampi admitting the fact that Claude Bautista – Franklin’s younger brother bid for the gubernatorial race against Cagas under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Former Governor Benjamin Bautista threw his bid for the mayoral seat of Malita town in May 2007 under the clout of the NPC.
The Bautista’s who are political kingpins in District 2 are currently split in two political parties – the Lakas-Kampi and NPC.
Cagas said Franklin had been in Kampi, while his younger brothers are NPC officials in the province. Claude is the concurrent NPC provincial chairman, while is the NPC second district chairperson.
The governor expressed optimism the merger would go on smoothly saying Rep. Bautista is also a close friend to his lone son, Marc Cagas, who is also the house representative for the First District of the province.
“I am also a close friend of Franklin’s son, Bradley Bautista who is the ABC (Association of Barangay Council) president of Malita. So there’s no impediments could be foreseen as far as the merger is concern,” Cagas said.
In the May 2007 elections, Cagas defeated Claude Bautista in the gubernatorial race but NPC bets for the provincial legislative department (sangguniang panlalawigan) got nine out of ten seats.
The governor’s wife, Mercedez Cagas got one of the ten seats.
Five Lakas mayoral bets won the elections, while the NPC mayoral candidates won in eight towns and Digos City. |