Magnificent Seven councilor, reelectionist Archie Baribar bared what he said were last-minute infighting within the ranks of MMK political alliance of winning mayoralty bet, Monico Puentevella, which led to vice-mayoralty bet, Vladimir Gonzalez’ heart rending defeat which saw Grupo Progreso’s Greg Gasataya becoming victor after the election recently.
Baribar made the analysis leading to Gonzalez’ defeat to Gasataya, during the election which should have led him winning alongside MKK standard-bearer Monico Puentevella. In fact, Gasataya could not even believe that he won over Gonzalez who reputedly had a strong political machinery. But Baribar pointed out that at the last minute, a few days before the election, aggrieved political colleagues running in the MKK slate released sample ballots without Gonzalez’ name on it as standard-bearer. This was because, Gonzalez’ political machinery imploded, even when he had more than enough resources to fund and sustain it. Persistent reports provided NNF/NDB also indicated that the MKK vice-mayoralty bet only worked for himself alienating further his fellow MMK candidates. MKK standard-bearer and winning chief executive Monico Puentevella had nothing to the infighting in his aggrupation, highly-reliable sources said. Many election coordinators were also alienated by Gonzalez’ political brain trust, who has been on the lips of many people since day one of the election period. Of the three political groupings and aggrupations, contending for various city government positions in the recent local election, theirs was the least funded while Grupo Progreso’s machinery was well-oiled. But a candidate for councilor of GP riled that they were given only P50,000 each of NPC funds. Of the three political groups, theirs had to struggle very hard to sustain their campaign. Even their vice-mayoralty bet, former city government official Renecito Novero had to scrape around for funds. But the Magnificent Seven’s bet for councilor El Cid Familiaran topped the list of winning councilors on the part of Baribar with the lack of funds, the votes he got which was 73,000 was all right. The other bet for councilor, lone woman, Councilor Sonya Verdeflor, made up three of the winning candidates of their group. It was councilor Elmer Sy who, along with several others did not make it. Baribar declared that he would continue to assume his role as fiscalizer in the new city government, with jobs and justice his clarion call. As people know, he has always been a non-conformist but what is good for the people in the city, he would cooperate. Baribar is also known as human rights lawyer, and was detained briefly when martial law was declared years back.* Edgar cadagat NEGROS DAILY BULLETIN
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Re-elected Bacolod City Councilor Archie Baribar said he will seek the review of the garbage collection contract entered into by the city government of Bacolod and Metrowaste Solidwaste Management Corporation.
This was stressed by Baribar, as he admitted that garbage collection had improved under the private company. Baribar claimed that the amount involved in the garbage collection project “is too big”, stressing that the contract is disadvantageous to the city. The re-elected councilor emphasized that he, together with Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Sonya Verdeflor, Catalino Alisbo and Elmer Sy had voted against the ratification of contract. The councilor said the contract was hastily passed despite its expensive rates. Under the incoming administration of Mayor-elect Monico Puentevella, we will have the chance to review the contract and study it well if it’s beneficial to the city or disadvantageous, Baribar added. There are sectors that insisted that garbage collection under a private contractor is better, but not on its current rates, he emphasized. Earlier, Familiaran had aired his opposition to the privatization, as he pushed for the termination of the project and to return to the city government the control and management of garbage collection services. WATCHMEN DALIY JOURNAL The Iglesia ni Cristo also endorsed 12 candidates for councilors in Bacolod City with seven coming from the Nationalist People's Coalition- Grupo Progreso.
Endorsed were re-electionist Councilors Em Ang, Ceasar Distrito, Roberto Rojas, Carlos Jose Lopez, former councilor Alex Paglumotan, architect Prospero Leonardia and former CENECO president Eddie Guillem, of NPC-GP. The INC also endorsed Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar and Sonya Verdeflor of the Magnificent Seven, and former councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue and Kalaw Puentevella of Pamilya MKK. It had earlier endorsed NPC-GP congressional, mayoralty and vice mayoralty candidates Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus and Greg Gasataya Sayson, who expressed their gratitude for the support given them. Ang recalled that the INC also endorsed her in the 2010 elections. She said she is humbled and happy that she has been endorsed again this year, and that she is thankful to them. “I am very happy for their endorsement considering that INC always votes as a bloc. With their growing membership, having 22 churches in Bacolod City, I am sure it is a big factor in winning any election,” Ang said. Familiaran also thanked the INC for its endorsement during their grand rally last night in Brgy. 35, together with Baribar and Verdeflor. Meanwhile, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said that with the INC endorsement they will live up to their expectations. He said the NPC-GP has received a deluge of support from various sectors, senatorial candidates, the President, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao and the INC endorsement is the latest one. Leonardia said “We believe that, to be in public service is a rare privilege, so we have to make the best out of it. All these endorsements have kept the GP candidates in high energy and level of confidence, he said. “The momentum is there, and has even snowballed with the INC endorsement,” Leonardia added. Sayson also thanked INC, through Ka Jun Cabrera, for the endorsement. "This shows that our brothers and sisters in the INC have trust and confidence in us to lead the city. With this, I promise to serve my fellow Bacolodnons with all my energy. Rest assured that your vote of confidence will be taken care of," he said. Gasataya, meanwhile, said he will be forever grateful to INC for its endorsement. This is important and crucial for the coming May 13, 2013 polls, he said.. The NPC-GP will hold its grand rally today at the Bacolod City Public Plaza starting 6 pm., which will be covered live by DYEZ Aksyon Radyo 684 khz; RMN DYHB 747 khz; Bombo Radyo DYWB 630 khz; DYKS Love Radio 91.9 FM and DYMY Easy Rock 105.5 FM. It will also be shown live over New Bacolod Cable-The MassKara Channel 10 and Sky Cable Channel 61. BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO THE VISAYAN DAILY STAR The three re-elected Bacolod Councilors of the Magnificent Seven, El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar and Sonya Verdeflor took their oath of office yesterday before Regional Trial Court Judge Ray Allan Drilon in Bacolod City in the presence of their families, supporters and friends.
Familiaran, who retained his place in the number one slot by garnering 98,156 votes, Baribar – 72,272 votes and Verdeflor – 64,432 votes, also held a caravan in Bacolod City Friday to thank their constituents for their support. They vowed to give their best for the welfare of the City of Bacolod saying they value and consider sacred the fresh mandate give them. Familiaran said he felt mixed emotions, considering that only three out of the seven candidates won, “How I wish all candidates of the Magnificent Seven won especially vice mayoralty candidate Renecito Novero,” he said. He thanked the Bacolenos for their support and trust and confidence in them Baribar also thanked the people for their support. He recalled that this was the most difficult, the most expensive and the most exhausting campaign they have experienced. Verdeflor said “We are all winners because we have established a good friendship and relationship. This is a victory that will never vanish.” She said that even if only the three of them made it, they will still be one family for the good of the city. “God's message is for us to continue to work and give our best for the good of the city," she said. They now consider themselves as the "three musketeers" since only three of them, out of the Magnificent 7, survived the elections. They said that it was a difficult campaign but it was sustained to the finish considering that many people appreciated what they have done for the city in their first three-year term. Meanwhile, Novero said they did their best during the campaign but one of the best things that happened to them is that their friendship grew closer and stronger. “It is not a happy thing that some of our members including myself did not make it. But I thank God for that. I also thank our core group which helped us navigate through rough waters and family members who stood with us and even my wife,” he said. Novero congratulated the re-elected councilors, adding that most of all, whether one won or lost, "I always believe that nobody loses for we are at the center of the will of God and I thank God for everything He allowed to happen even in this election. BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO THE VISAYAN DAILY STAR THE Commission on Elections in Bacolod proclaimed on Tuesday congressman-elect incumbent city Mayor Evelio Leonardia, vice mayor-elect Greg Gasataya, and the 12 councilors who won in the May 13 polls.
Despite failing to canvass the remaining four clustered precincts, acting Bacolod City election registrar lawyer Milagros Salud Villanueva officially proclaimed Tuesday night the winners in the Monday polls. Villanueva said the basis of the decision of the board of canvassers (BOCS) in the proclamation of winners was the recently passed en banc resolution of the Comelec that authorized BOCs to proclaim winners if the remaining uncanvassed election returns no longer affect the standing of the winners. She said that, if not for the mislabeling of the CF Cards of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines, the BOC would have finished the canvassing of the election returns as early as 2 a.m. of May 14. She said the total number of voters in the four uncanvassed clustered precincts totaled only 3,286 and that the number does not affect the margin of votes garnered by the winning congressman, mayor, vice mayor and councilors. The councilors who were proclaimed winners were: El Cid Familiaran with 98,956 votes; Jocelle Batapa-Sigue with 90,270 votes; Bobby Rojas with 86,305; Em Ang with 85,728; Carl Lopez with 85,356; Claudio Puentevella with 83,122; Caesar Distrito with 76,206; Archie Baribar with 72,272; Wilson Gamboa Jr. with 69,034; Alex Paglumutan with 68,380; Sonya Verdeflor with 64,432 and Ann Marie Palermo with 63,419. CARLA CANET The Commission on Elections proclaimed the winning candidates of the May 13 automated elections in Bacolod City last night, except for councilor-elect Alex Paglumotan of the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Grupo Progreso, who was not present.
Bacolod congressman-elect Evelio Leonardia of NPC-GP was proclaimed at the Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall of the Bacolod Government Center at about 8:55 p.m., while mayor-elect Monico Puentevella of Pamilya MKK was proclaimed at past 7 p.m. Elected councilors El Cid Familiaran, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Roberto Rojas, Em Ang, Carlos Jose Lopez, Kalaw Puentevella, Caesar Distrito, Archie Baribar, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Sonya Verdeflor and Ana Marie Palermo were also proclaimed at about 8 p.m., while vice mayor-elect Greg Gasataya of NPC-GP was proclaimed at about 8:35 p.m. Bacolod Elections Officer Salud Milagros Villanueva yesterday said that, based on Comelec Resolution 9700, the local Comelec can proclaim the winners as long as the number of uncanvassed votes will not affect the difference in the votes garnered by the contenders. Villanueva said there are still four clustered precincts whose results have not yet been canvassed. These are precinct 95 at E. Garcia Elementary School with 896 registered voters;precinct 110 at Domingo Lacson with 874; precinct 279 at Medel ES with 721, and precinct 286 at Villa Esperanza ES with 795 votes, or a total of 3,286. Based on partial official count of the Comelec as of 9 last night, Leonardia garnered 94,682 votes over Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez Jr., who got 59,910 votes, Lyndon Caña with 35,612, and Ely Sergio Palma, 408. Puentevella garnered 105,685 votes over NPC-GP mayoralty candidate, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who got 90,614 votes. Gasataya garnered 68,266 votes over Pamilya MKK vice mayoralty bet Vladimir Gonzalez, who got 60,121 votes, Renecito Novero of The Magnificent Seven, 55,592, and independent bet Johram Alam, 1,143. Familiaran got 90,756 votes; Batapa-Sigue, 90,270; Rojas, 86,305; Ang, 85,728; Lopez, 85,356; Puentevella, 83,192; Distrito, 76,206; Baribar, 72,272; Gamboa, 69,034; Paglumotan, 68,380; Verdeflor, 64,432, and Palermo, 63,119. There are 311 clustered precincts in Bacolod City, and 259,302 registered voters. Meanwhile, Caña of the Liberal Party has conceded to Leonardia yesterday, saying, “I accept the outcome (of the elections) although I have questions since it is the result according to the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines.” Caña also appealed to Puentevella to uplift the lives of the poor as he assumes his post so they will no longer be susceptible to vote-buying. BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO & ADRIAN NEMES III THE VISAYAN DAILY STAR Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, former Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella and former councilor Greg Gasataya took early leads in the race for congressman, mayor and vice mayor receptively in Bacolod City based on a partial unofficial count of GMA representing 84.88 percent of Bacolod City election returns.
Leonardia of the Nationalist People's Coalition – Grupo Progreso garnered 81,171 votes over incumbent Bacolod Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez Jr. who got 51,040 votes, former councilor Lyndon Caña with 30,963 and Ely Sergio Palma with 340 votes. For the mayoralty race, Puentevella of Pamilya MKK garnered 90,299 votes over Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson who got 77,866. Gasataya, vice mayoralty candidate of NPC-GP, got 58,661, followed by Vladimir Gonzalez of Pamilya MKK with 51,127 votes, former vice mayor Renecito Novero of the Magnificent Seven with 48,157, and Johram Alama with 974 votes. Meanwhile, based on the partial count of the Commission on Elections covering 37 barangays, Leonardia garnered 21,002 votes over Golez who got 13,357 votes, and Caña who got 6,359 votes. Puentevella garnered 23,506 votes over Sayson who got 18,276 votes. Gasataya got 13,876 votes over Gonzalez who got 13,300 votes and Novero who got 11,897 votes. The barangays covered are 1,2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and Cabug. Meanwhile, partial unofficial count of GMA for councilors showed incumbent Councilor El Cid Familiaran retaining the number one slot. Familiaran garnered 84,329 votes; Jocelle Batapa-Sigue – 78,099; Councilors Roberto Rojas – 74,483; Em Legaspi-Ang – 74,026; and Carlos Jose Lopez- 73,414; Kalaw Puentevella – 71,093; Councilors Caesar Distrito – 66,249 and Archie Baribar – 62,628; Wilson Gamboa Jr. – 59,450; Alex Paglumotan – 58,933; Councilor Sonya Verdeflor – 55,647; and Ana Marie Palermo – 54,471. Bart Orola landed 13 th place with 48,184 votes followed by Israel Salanga – 45,838; Councilor Elmer Sy – 45,304; Eddie Guillem – 44,969; Bong Dilag – 43,322; Councilor Mona Dia Jardin – 41,463; Prospero/Andy Leonardia – 41,459; Migs Estrella – 35,1099. . Meanwhile, the Board of Canvassers convened at about 12:15 p.m. yesterday at the Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall at the Bacolod City Government Center. Bacolod Election Officer Milagros Salud Villanueva said that based on Comelec Resolution 9646 the BOC should convene at 12 noon so that they can determine right away if there is a problem in the consolidation canvassing system (CCS). Villanueva said the BOC is composed of herself as chairman, City Prosecutor Armando Abanado as vice chairman and the Department of Education. Since Bacolod Schools Superintendent Gemma Ledesma sent a medical certificate that said that she cannot serve due to health reasons, she can be substituted by the City Auditor, who is Leilanie Borja, Villanueva said. Villanueva also said there were about nine Precinct Count Optical Scan machines in different polling places that encountered some problems yesterday, based on reports she received from the field but the Comelec has adopted contingency measures to address them so that the voting could continue. This was a problem encountered almost all over the Philippines, but they were able to address them right away, she said. Some voters complained to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting that they could not find their names. Villanueva said there were also alleged vote-buying activities reported yesterday, and if this could be proven, appropriate charges will be filed against those responsible. A wide screen was placed outside the government center for the public to witness the canvassing of votes. The canvassing of votes was witnessed by the representatives and lawyers of the candidates and the political parties.*CGS/LTG BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO & LISA GAPAC |
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