Déjà vu: case vs ‘Ria’ Vergara

THIS REFERS to the disqualification case against Rosanna “Ria” Vergara, a congressional candidate for the third district of Nueva Ecija. (“DQ case heats up Nueva Ecija polls,” Across the Nation, 11/13/15). Reportedly, the case was filed by Philip Piccio in the Commission on Elections on the ground that Vergara is not a Filipino citizen.

It’s déjà vu all over again! Sometime ago, Piccio, a political ally of Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali who is running for representative of Nueva Ecija’s third district, questioned the Filipino citizenship of Mayor Jay Vergara, husband of Ria, saying the latter is a US immigrant, despite his being mayor of Cabanatuan City for six terms now.

Concerned Cabanatueños denounce the anti-Ria move which for them does not make sense because she “is a natural-born Filipino citizen and bona fide resident and registered voter in Cabanatuan.” A Harvard-trained business executive, Ria manages the Cabanatuan City Electric Corp., one of the world’s best-operating electric corporations. At present, she is very active in charitable works and projects that benefit orphans, street children and one- to six-month-old-infants deprived of alagang ina (motherly love and care).

If elected, Ria said she will reach out to and help as many needy and less-fortunate people as possible in Nueva Ecija’s third district which is composed of the cities of Cabanatuan and Palayan and the municipalies of Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon, Natividad and Sta. Rosa. She also vowed to bring to the rest of the district the palpable “Pagbabago, Progreso” (Reform, Progress) program that her husband Jay has done in Cabanatuan, which

today is one of the nation’s best-performing and competitive mid-size cities.

With Ria’s workable people-oriented program, it’s no wonder her opponent wants her out of the congressional fray.

—PRUDENCIO E. MAGPAYO, MS Garcia, Cabanatuan City