Jolo Revilla heads Cavite barangays, picked VP of nat’l league

TRECE MARTIRES CITY – Showbusiness and politics – it’s all in the family.

This may well be said of the Revillas of Cavite as young actor Jolo Revilla, son of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, has been elected barangay captain of Bacoor town where his uncle, Strike Revilla, is mayor.

Not only that. Jolo was elected president of the barangay federation in the entire province of Cavite making him a provincial board member of Cavite. This could pave the way for his becoming the vice governor and governor of the historic province, two posts once occupied by his father before he went into national politics as senator.

Jolo was also recently elected vice president of the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas, the federation of barangay leaders of the country.

Jolo’s uncle Strike has also been elected president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), the organization of municipal mayors in the country. He succeeded Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. who ran for senator in the last election but lost in the race. Guico was a campaign teammate of Sen. Revilla, the eventual topnotcher of the race, during the last senatorial race.

The young barangay captain was voted executive vice president of the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas, the over-all organization of the 42,000 barangays in the country, during the election held last week at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.

Revilla, whose real name is Jose Lorenzo Mercado Bautista, won without an opponent the second highest position in the LMBP. All 120 Liga ng mga Barangay provincial chapter and city presidents participated in the electoral proceedings.

The young Revilla once became controversial with his relationship with the daughter of actress Rosanna Roces with whom he has a child and later with Lovi Poe, daughter of the late Movie King Fernando Poe Jr.

Revilla was elected as barangay chairman of Panapaan 7, Bacoor and subsequently as the president of the Association of Barangay Councils of Bacoor. He also became president of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Cavite chapter, making him an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Cavite.

Revilla vowed to push the empowerment of communities nationwide. “We will make sure that no barangay will be left behind in terms of benefits and services. Titiyakin din natin mismo at igigiit na matatanggap ng mga kasapi at opisyal ng barangay ang mga benepisyo at serbisyong ginagantiya ng Local Government Code,” he said.

Revilla asserted that he will press for measures that will improve the continuity of barangay programs.

He appealed to LMBP members to remain united. “Unity is our strength. We need the cooperation and support of one another to achieve our similar goal, the empowerment of our barangays,” he stressed.