HAS Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and fellow members of his Partido na Pangasinan finally joined the Liberal Party of Mar Roxas?

This question cropped when Mr. Espino was seen in the company of Roxas during a gathering of Northern Luzon political leaders supporting the LP standard bearer on Monday at Panaderia Antonio in Calasiao at noon of Monday.

He sat seated with Mr. Roxas, along with former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. his wife Fourth District Rep. Gina de Venecia, Third District Rep. Rosemary Baby Arenas, Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, all with the LP; and Ilocos Sur Second District Rep. Eric Singson, LP regional chairman.

Also in that meeting were Sixth District Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. and Mayors Amadeo Espino Jr. of Bautista and Ricardo Camacho of Bayambang. Also present was former Third District Rep. Rachel Arenas.

Also seen at the gathering were Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin of Abra, Rep. Victor Ortega of La Union, Mayor Pablo Ortega of San Fernando, and officials of Ilocos Norfe, Benguet, Mt. Province, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Isabela and Cagayan, all of the so-called Solid North.

Many believed it was a gathering of LPs in Northern Luzon, the so-called Solid North, since it was Mr. Singson who presided over the meeting.

Also in attendance was former Alaminos City Mayor Hernani, now a leading figure in the Roxas campaign and whom Espino beat in the 2013 polls.

Mr. Singson said the meeting was called to thank President Aquino for releasing the region’s share in the excise tax in the amount of close to P11 billion.

Mr. Espino and his fellow Northern Luzon officials were already inside the room when Mr. Roxas, accompanied by Braganza, arrived. With them was Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Mr. Braganza easily shook the governor’s hand, an indication that observers said the two could have already been in contact with each other ever since the campaign for national candidates began.

But when asked two days later if he has now officially joined the “yellow army” of Roxas, Gov. Espino begged off and said: “Let’s talk about other subjects.”

Mr. Espino already hosted LP vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo even before the campaign began and showed her he can mobilize thousands of people in just very short notice just to listen to her.

What others took as a confirmation that Mr. Espino may have already joined the administration party was when the governor was among those who was around when President Benigno Aquino III distributed the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) provided by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to 23 Micro Small and Medium Enterprise in Pangasinan in the afternoon of March 14.

His presence was properly acknowledged by the master of ceremonies and also by the President when he spoke. (Leonardo Micua)

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