PAMPANGA — “I am very grateful for the support of Governor Delta and Vice Gov Nanay for my bid for Congressman.”
Thus said Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. on June 28, 2024, hours before his official declaration of candicacy for Pampanga First District Representative at the Magalang Plaza, which will be attended by both Pampanga Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda and Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda.
According to Lazatin, the Governor and Vice Governor have always lent their support to him ever since he first assumed as Mayor of Angeles back in 2019.
For his part, Lazatin vows to offer the Provincial Government whatever support he can to help uplift the lives of residents in the First District of Pampanga, especially Mabalacat City and Magalang Municipality.
It can be recalled that in November 2023, Vice Governor Pineda personally administered the mass oathtaking of all newly-elected and reelected Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) Officials of Angeles City at Royce Hotel Casino in Clark.
Addressing the BSK Officials during the oathtaking, Vice Governor Pineda said, “Siguradung siguradu pu, maging tutuking Congressman na ning First District — Pogi Lazatin.”
Governor Pineda was also in attendance during the oathtaking ceremony and, in his speech, said, “Ing support mi pu, kang Mayor Pogi. Since sabe kami pung nilukluk ning 2019, lawe pa mu mipagkaintindi na kami pu. E na pu masira ing relasyun a yan hanggang nokarin pu miras.”
Earlier, all three Presidents of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Angeles City, Mabalacat City, and Magalang Municipality also declared their support for Lazatin’s congressman bid.
“Ikit ku mismu keng balen ning Angeles kung makananu yang tinipa i Mayor Pogi memasyal, at pintalan deng mangailangan,” said Danilo Nacu, President of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Angeles City, “Nung ikwa na kaming luguran at lingapan keng Angeles, mas agawa na keti keng mumuna a distritu ning Pampanga.”
Meanwhile, June Marimla, President of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Magalang Municipality, declared, “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.”
Rey Pineda, President of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Mabalacat City, also expressed his and the Mabalacat Barangay Council’s 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.
Out of 87 total barangays in the First District of Pampanga, 85 have pledged their support for the candidacy of Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. for District Representative.
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.
(File photo shows Mayor Lazatin sharing a light moment with Vice Governor Pineda during dinner on January 10, 2024.
They are joined by Angeles City Liga ng mga Barangay President, Danilo Nacu.)
