Actor throws hat into Ecija politics

CUYAPO, Nueva Ecija -A brother of actor Robin Padilla, touted as the Bad Boy of Philippine movies, is throwing a hat into the local political arena, making an early spice into the provincial political contest.

Rommel Padilla, who co-stars in various films of his brother, took his oath of allegiance to the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija before party chair and Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson. He was accompanied with Robin in the ceremonies witnessed by hundreds of residents at the municipal gymnasium in Cuyapo town where a medical mission was also being held.

Gov. Tomas N. Joson 3rd, said Padilla is eyed to run for a first district seat at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan even as former basketball player J.V. Yango is finishing his mandatory three-term limit.

It can be recalled that in Robin himself run for vice governor of Nueva Ecija in 1995 under Lakas-CMD as runningmate of the late Cabanatuan City Mayor Honorato Perez. Curiously, the Perez-Padilla tandem was then gunning the posts held by Balane.

Robin lost to Vice Gov. Oscar Tinio.

The Padilla’s matriarch, Eva Cariño, traces her roots at Barangay Nagmisahan, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija where their close relatives maintain residence.

The Padilla brothers immediately joined he vice governor, who is eyeing the gubernatorial seat in 2007 mid-term elections, in his tour to Talavera, Nueva Ecija where they attended a large meet of women’s groups.