Ebdane changes Zambales political landscape

CANDELARIA, Zambales — The candidacy of former pubic works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has changed the political landscape in this province, shaking traditional alliances and forcing candidates to check out new political affiliations.

Zambales board member Jun Pangan, who has joined Ebdane’s camp despite his elder brother Hilary’s candidacy for governorship under the Ang Kapatiran party, said Ebdane has brought together under his wing bitter rivals among mayoralty candidates.

“Where else would you find the most unlikely team-ups?” Pangan wondered. “But Jun Ebdane has brought them all together. In several cases, two or more local candidates vying for the same position are all endorsing Ebdane,” Pangan added.

A week ago Ebdane began his official campaign in his hometown in Candelaria. With him were two aspirants for the mayoralty, who came from two different parties.

(Zambales gubernatorial candidate Hermogenes “Jun” Ebdane Jr. campaigns in Candelaria with Mayor Jean Misa-Moraña (left) and Vice Mayor Pedro Ecunar, who are rivals for the mayoralty position.)

Incumbent Mayor Jean Moraña-Misa, a member of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, said she and her chief rival, incumbent Vice Mayor Pedro Ecunar are both rooting for Ebdane “ to make sure that he will be the next Zambales governor.”

“It’s a matter of pride for us residents of Candelaria, so we have both pledged our support to Secretary Ebdane,” Misa said.

“Our common goal is for a 100 percent Candelaria vote for Ebdane,” Ecunar said. “We are now urging our town mates to deliver a solid vote for Ebdane and to carry Candelaria’s favorite son to victory,” added Ecunar, who is running under the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka (PMM).

Aside from Misa and Ecunar, several rivals in the coming May elections have “adopted” Ebdane as their common candidate. These include vice-gubernatorial bets Jury Deloso (PMM), a nephew of Gov. Amor Deloso, who is Ebdane’s strongest rival; former board member Renato Collado of (Lakas); and former vice-governor Ramon Lacbain, who is running under the Nacionalista Party (NP).

In the second district of Zambales, two of the three aspirants for congress are supporting Ebdane: incumbent Rep. Antonio Diaz (PMM) and Alfred Mendoza (Lakas). The other candidate for the same seat is Deloso’s daughter, Cheryl Deloso-Montalla.

In Masinloc town, which boasts of the so-called “solid Zambal votes” along with the municipalities of Candelaria, Sta. Cruz and Palauig in the northern part of the province, three mayoralty candidates are allied with Ebdane: Desiree Edora (Lakas), Roberto Eamilao (NP), and Pepito Dimaculangan (PMM).

In Subic town, meanwhile, Jason Kohonghun, a son of Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun, has filed his candidacy for Zambales board member under the aegis of Ebdane — even as his elder brother Jay has long been allied with Deloso.

“Without doubt, Jun Ebdane has changed the political landscape of Zambales,” said Pangan, who received the third highest number of votes in the second district of Zambales in the 2007 elections.

“Now, parties don’t seem to matter anymore. As long as you’re with Ebdane, you’re bankable because the people are already clamoring for a change in leadership,” Pangan added.

Ebdane became the common candidate for various parties in Zambales after he forged an alliance with former Zambales governor Vicente Magsaysay, who is now running for mayor of Olongapo City under the Lakas-Kampi party.

This gave Ebdane the support of eight incumbent mayors allied with Magsaysay.

After this, most of the major aspirants in the province have disregarded party lines and formed local alliances with the former DPWH official.