PAMPANGA — Out of 87 total barangays in the First District of Pampanga, 85 are expected to pledge their support for the candidacy of Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. for District Representative.
“E naku man pu orihinal na malutu,” said Danilo Nacu, President of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Angeles City, alluding to the fact that he did not start his political career as an ally of Lazatin, “Oneng anyang midinan upaya na akilala ke i Mayor ‘cong’ Pogi, ana pin pu keng ingles, ‘this is where I belong’.”
“Ikit ku mismu keng balen ning Angeles kung makananu yang tinipa, memasyal, at pintalan deng mangailangan,” Nacu added, “Ninu wari deng pakakalulung memalen ning Angeles? Nung ikwa na kaming luguran at lingapan, mas agawa na keti keng mumuna a distritu ning Pampanga.”
June Marimla, President of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Magalang Municipality, also expressed the support of the barangay captains of Magalang for Lazatin.
“Ikami pung kapitan keni Magalang bibye mi pu ing full support kang Mayor ‘cong’ Pogi Lazatin kasi pu deng pung pamilyang Lazatin ikit mi pu nung makananu lang magserbisyu lalung-lalu na keti balen Magalang,” Marimla said.
“Ikami pung kapitan manungkulan keti Magalang, tatalakad kami pu kang Mayor ‘cong’ Pogi. Bista man pu e mi ya pa akautos keng pamanungkulan, ikami pu ing kumpyansa mi, ing tiwala mi, atsu ya pu kaya,” added Marimla.
Rey Pineda, President of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Mabalacat City, echoed the same sentiments and declared support for Lazatin.
“Ikami pu kening Mabalacat City, kayabe da pu reng buong pwersa da reng barangay council, kapitan, susuporta kami pu nung nanu man pu itang kekayung paglaban keng kekatamung distritu,” Pineda said.
“Ikami pung barangay council keti pu Mabalacat suportan da kayu pu,” he added.
Earlier, some 600 officers of sectoral groups from Angeles City, Mabalacat City, and Magalang Municipality, including women, persons with disability (PWD), LGBTQ, farmers, public transport groups, muslim community, indigenous peoples, senior citizens, and solo parents also expressed their support for Lazatin’s candidacy.
On June 4, 2024, Lazatin announced that he will officially declare his candidacy for Pampanga First District Representative on June 28, 2024, what would have been the 90th birthday of his late father, former Pampanga First District Representative and three-time Angeles City Mayor, Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin.
Currently, Lazatin is serving his second term as Angeles City Mayor.
(File photo shows Lazatin addressing the newly-elected Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Officials of the Municipality of Magalang during their Mass Oath Taking Ceremony on November 13, 2023, to which he was invited by Magalang Mayor Malu Lacson.
Also in attendance during the event is Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, who administered the oath.)