LINGAYEN – The ruling party scored a big catch when the entire Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) in Mangatarem town and in the second district of Pangasinan took their oath as new members of Lakas-Christian Democrats.

The new Lakas-CMD recruits were led by former Rep. Teodoro Cruz of the second district of Pangasinan, then provincial chairman of PMP in Pangasinan.

Cruz, together with his younger brother Mayor Nelson Cruz and Vice Mayor Gil Cuaresma of Mangatarem, and members of municipal council of the latter two, took their oath before Governor Victor Agbayani, co-provincial chairman of Lakas-CMD.

The occasion marked the final reconciliation of Cruz and Agbayani who opposed each other in 2001 when former was seeking his first reelection.

Cruz, then in his first term of office after serving as mayor of Mangatarem for one term, lost to Agbayani by a wide margin.

“We were opponents but never enemies. We were rivals for the same position but I don’t think we did anything that would prevent us from reconciling,” Agbayani said.

Showing that he harbors no ill-feeling with Cruz, the governor explained that there was a mutual agreement between him and the former congressman to join forces in Mangatarem town.

“I don’t think it is necessary to state who initiated it, how did it start. It’s a mutual agreement to join forces,” said Agbayani after the oath-taking although Cruz deliberately refused to issue any statement.

Cruz was with the PMP of former President Joseph Estrada in his unsuccessful bid for the governorship against Agbayani.

Cruz’s and company’s affiliation to Lakas, left the PMP in Mangatarem, second congressional district and possibly the whole of Pangasinan leaderless and without any member at all.

Agbayani said he was told that former Congressman Cruz is eyeing to run for mayor of Mangatarem in order to replace his brother Nelson who is now on his third and final term of office.

If former Congressman Cruz would be running for mayor, his most likely running mate is Cristina Punzal-Cruz, wife of incumbent Mayor Cruz.

Others who also took their oath before Agbayani were former Mangatarem Mayor Lamberto Cruz, father of both Teodoro and Nelson, and Nelson’s father-in-law don Marcial Punzal.

The Cruzes and Punzals used to be traditional political antagonists in Mangatarem politics till long-time sweethearts Nelson and Cristina tied the knot. This finally put an end to the business and political rivalries between the two clans that have ruled the town of Mangatarem for many decades.

Jesse, a son of Punzal and brother of Cristina, served as mayor of Mangatarem till he was beaten by Lamberto Cruz.

Agbayani told newsmen he expects more political leaders in the province to join the administration party in the next few days.