STO. TOMAS, Pangasinan—The Biskeg na Pangasinan (Strength of Pangasinan), a group of powerful political leaders, has been accredited by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) national office as a local political party.

Biskeg founder, Undersecretary for Local Governance Antonio Villar Jr told this writer that copy of the party affiliation was furnished him recently by Comelec Commissioner Romeo Brawner.

'This is history in Pangasinan because this is the first time that a local group of leaders was officially recognized as a local political party by no less than the Comelec,” Villar, former mayor for more than 20 years here, said.

With its official accreditation after undergoing tedious legal process, the group composed of powerful political leaders of Pangasinan like mayors, vice mayors, councilors, board members, will be stronger in supporting causes for the progress of Pangasinan, Villar said.

He said that as in previous incidents, Biskeg will carefully choose candidates it is going to support for various elective positions like those who really possess leadership qualities, sincerity to serve and have strong potentials to win.

Bayambang Mayor Leocadio de Vera Jr, Biskeg executive vice president who untiringly prepared the documents needed and who was the one attending hearings in Manila for the group’s accreditation, said “this is another landmark victory of Biskeg”.

He said he is expecting that the group’s common vision to have a lasting unity and harmony among political leaders in the province will be achieved.

Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, Biskeg executive vice president, said he is now writing letters to their members to inform them about this new development. Biskeg counts among its members majority of Pangasinan mayors and vice mayors and hundred others local officials.

Fifth district Board Member Emmanuel Carancho, one of the leading directors of the group, said that “now more than ever, Biskeg will forever be etched in the history of Pangasinan”.

Carancho’s daughter, Charizzma Salud Carancho was overwhelmingly elected board member representing municipal councilors in Pangasinan, with the group’s strong support. The young Carancho is now the vice mayor of Urdaneta City.

For his part, Dagupan City Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez said he, too, owed a lot to Biskeg. He was elected unopposed in the Vice Mayors’ League of Pangasinan due to the group’s support.

In many elections in Pangasinan, Biskeg had supported candidates who emerged victorious in their fights like in the Liga ng mga Barangay, mayors’ league, vice mayors’ league, councilors’ league and Sangguniang Kabataan provincial federation.

In the 2004 elections, Biskeg gave its all-out support to the candidacy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The President got huge votes in Pangasinan and was able to minimize by a big number the expected margin of votes of her closest rival who also traced his roots in Pangasinan.