Nearly 200 Bulacan politicians join Marcos-allied NUP
CITY OF MALOLOS— With less than a month before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the May 2025 polls, close to 200 local political personalities in Bulacan took oath as members of the National Unity Party (NUP), a Marcos administration-allied national party.
In a ceremony on Thursday, City of Baliwag Mayor Ferdie Estrella and San Ildefonso Mayor Fernando Galvez led 13 out of 24 incumbent mayors in the province, who either stayed or switched to NUP party, as they took oath before provincial party heads Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis Castro at Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.
The 11 other incumbent mayors who reaffirmed their alliance with NUP were Eladio Gonzales Jr. of Balagtas, Ronaldo Flores of Donya Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Enrico Roque of Pandi, Bartolome Ramos of Sta. Maria, Jocell Vistan of Plaridel, Mary Anne Marcos of Paombong, Maria Rosario Ochoa of Pulilan, Elena Germar of Norzagaray, Glorime Faustino of Calumpit, Henry Lutao of Marilao, Francis Juan of Bustos.
The House members in Bulacan- Reps. Danilo Domigo (first district) and Augustina Dominique “Tina” Pancho (second district) — also took oath as NUP members.
Victor Silverio, son of outgoing third district Rep. Lorna Silverio, joined the party to run for the post to be vacated by his mother.
‘Unbeatable team’
House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco welcomed the new members of the party.
“Fernando’s and Castro’s team is unbeatable. It is suicide to run against them,” Velasco, who is on leave as NUP secretary general, said in his speech.
Former Angat Mayor Leonardo De Leon, who plans to seek anew his old post, led other returning returning mayoral aspirants and other officials in taking oath to NUP.
The Commission on Elected has scheduled the COC filing from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8 for the May 2025 elections.
Fernando, as NUP provincial head, expressed his gratitude to NUP chairman Ronaldo Puno guiding the party, which is in coalition with the Partido Federal party of President Marcos.
