We do not know if it was prompted by disbelief or maybe the inability to digest a stinging electoral defeat, but the statement of outgoing Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella about being “rudely interrupted” on his way to a second term is the strangest he has made in the wake of his loss. It seems uncharacteristic for Puentevella to go on the offensive. But as his days in power come to an end, perhaps he cares less about courtesy. After going through years of snide remarks and criticism from Leonardia, Puentevella seems to have had enough. As he practically delivered his swan song yesterday, he highlighted achievements of his administration, though short-lived, which built on the shortcomings of Leonardia when he left City Hall and, in many aspects, put Bacolod City back on track. This 2016 polls, according to pundits, may mark the end of the decades-long strife between the political titans of the city. It is a conflict that has stifled other political stars, thereby also limiting the growth potential of the City. From 2016 to 2019, Representative Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran will have the chance to prove themselves worthy of the mandates given to them and, in the long term, show themselves capable of being mayor as well. With Leonardia getting the last laugh in his feud with Puentevella, it is Bacolod that will benefit later on. For when a great tree falls, it allows for other flora to grow and bloom. This is the beginning of that transition and it is hoped Leonardia, who no longer has to fight for his political survival, would train his sights on sustaining Bacolod’s boom and not on political revenge. Editorial Watchmen Daily Journal
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THE City Council of Bacolod has concurred the appointment of Office of the Building Official (OBO) head Engineer Isidro Sun Jr. The seven administration councilors who supported the appointment of Sun include Archie Baribar, Ana Marie Palermo, Claudio Puentevella, Alex Paglumotan, Wilson Gamboa, Sonya Verdeflor, and Noli Villarosa. Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Em Ang, Caesar Distrito, and Roberto Rojas opposed. Distrito said the appointment and concurrence of Sun as head of OBO is illegal and invalid. He cited that it is clearly mandated by the National Building Code that the power to appoint a permanent building official is vested solely to the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and not with the local chief executive or the mayor, thus his appointment by the mayor is null and void, and that the consequent concurrence is also invalid. Distrito added that what was done in this case is in fact a criminal offense of usurpation of official function, since the mayor assumed the function, which is beyond what is mandated to him by law. "For sure, the appointment will be nullified by the Civil Service Commission for a clear want of authority by outgoing Mayor Puentevella in appointing the OBO head," he added. Earlier, OBO engineers Sharon Gayanelo, Cary Memoria, Glenda Pajes, Edwin Anas, and Philippe Andrew Soliguen wrote a letter to the City Council, expressing their opposition to the appointment of Sun as head of the OBO. Engineer Ephraim Hechanova furnished the City Council of the letter coming from the DPWH secretary and other documents that prove that Sun is not qualified for the position. (CNC) Sun Star Bacolod Outgoing Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella incurred the highest expenditures during the May 9 polls, according to his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). Based on the records released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Bacolod, Puentevella spent a total of P1,341,408.05 for his campaign, while Mayor-elect Evelio ‘Bing’ Leonardia claims to have shelled out P692,509.48. Besides the mayoralty bets, the Comelec also released the official expenditures of other candidates, particularly Congressman-elect Greg Gasataya (P450,093.63) and Vice Mayor-elect El Cid Familiaran (P658,26.00). Losing Councilors Israel Salanga, and Al Victor Espino were the last to file their SOCE at the Comelec office, yesterday. Atty. Rolando Villamor, Sr., a congressional aspirant, had zero expenditures. On the last day of submission, only losing candidate Rico Villafuerte failed to file for his SOCE. According to City Election Officer Atty. Mavil Majarucon-Sia, failure to file the SOCE within the given time period could result in disqualification for the winning candidate or disqualification from running in any elective posts in future polls./WDJ Watchmen Daily Journal By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga An independent candidate for councilor failed to file his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures yesterday before the Commission on Elections, the only one out of the 38 Bacolod City candidates who ran in the May 9 elections. Rico Villafuerte failed to submit his SOCE as of 5 p.m. yesterday, the deadline set by Comelec. No extension will be given to those who did not file their SOCE. Under the Omnibus Election Code, candidates who fail to submit their SOCE twice are barred from running for public office. Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella of Pamilya Magbinuligay Kita Para sa Kauswagan had the highest expenditures declared in his SOCE amounting to P1,341,408.05, while independent mayoralty candidate Wilfredo David had zero (P0.00), based on records of the Comelec. Vice Mayor and congressman-elect Greg Gasataya had total expenses amounting to P450,093.63 while other congressional candidates, Joel Enriquez had P10,974, Archie Baribar - P1,002,686.08, and Jude Thaddeus Sayson of MKK - P416,394.22. Bacolod Rep. and mayor-elect Evelio Leonardia had total expenses amounting to P692,508.48m Councilor and vice mayor-elect El Cid Familiaran – P658,268.48, and vice mayoralty candidate Vladimir Gonzalez – P762,948.47. Bacolod Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia yesterday said those who failed to submit their SOCE on the deadline will still be given due process and it is the Campaign Finance Committee that will decide on their case. Meanwhile, Majarucon-Sia said she already filed yesterday before Branch 42 of the Regional Trial Court her request for extension of time to file her answer in relation to the case seeking a manual recount of the ballots cast in the May 9 elections that was filed against her, the City Treasurer and two other members of the Board of Canvassers by supporters of Pamilya MKK. She will leave for Manila today to submit a copy of the case to the Law Department of the Comelec, as well as other reports, she said. Majarucon-Sia said the Law Department will study the case and will make the necessary recommendation to the Comelec en banc. It is up to the en banc to decide on the matter, she said. She believes they can defend themselves and that they are confident of the automated system which tabulated the result of the election, she said adding that it is Comelec Manila that will work on the case. Majarucon-Sia also said she has no authority to answer anything related to the case without any directive, memorandum or authority from the Law Department of the Comelec. The supporters of Pamilya MKK of Puentevella are seeking a manual recount of the ballots cast in the May 9 elections saying they were deprived of the procedure in relation to the consolidation of the data by the Consolidation/Canvassing System. Civil Case No. 1604 was filed by Richard Calulut, Rufino Alcala, Rodelyn Jagunap, Lope Ledesma, Jr., Levy Cadagat, Jr., Rodolfo Robles, Jr., Banni Macapodi, Nelson Reyes, Rosanna Ilon, Jose Jessie Bantigue, Madeline Diaz, Salvacion Penuela, Febe Legaspi, Joji Agbas, Emilia Lopez, Edgardo Emilia, Jessel Sombilla and Stella Alfabeto. Other respondents in the case are City Treasurer Giovanni, Lelanie Lory Bojos and Gerald John Joven also of the city BOC. In their petition, the complainants said that they were deprived of the right to know how their votes were tallied, appreciated, totaled and/or canvassed. They said that when the results of the elections were announced by the Board of Canvassers, they were shocked and could not believe that their candidates only got the following votes against their leading opponents: MKK congressional candidate Jude Thaddeus Sayson got 84,431 votes against Greg Gasataya of Grupo Progreso who got 85,467 votes. Mayoralty candidate Monico Puentevella got 97,993 votes against Evelio Leonardia (GP) who got 120,231 votes. MKK vice mayoralty candidate Vladimir Gonzalez got 86,611 votes against El Cid Familiaran (GP) who got 108,360 votes. The petitioners are seeking a manual recount in order to assure the public that their votes were properly counted.*CGS Visayan Daily Star BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Brgy. 41 access road closed, despite SP resolution Brgy. Chairman asking for higher relocation funds6/8/2016 Hundreds of families living at the former compound of the Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company (BMMC) in Barangay 41 cried foul over the closure of their access road going to their residences. Brgy. 41 Chairman Leonilo Colegado, along with several of his kagawads, requested assistance from the city government, Tuesday morning. According to Colegado, the property has recently been purchased by the Megaworld from the Araneta family to develop the 34-hectare property into a township. On June 1, their access road heading to Barangay 21 was opened following a resolution by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) requesting the owners to open the road. However, the following day, the owners closed the road again cutting off the residents. Colegado also said the developer and property owner offered P10,000 to each family that are willing to leave the property, but most preferred to stay citing the financial assistance was not enough. A relocation site for the families in Brgy. Vista Alegre was also offered, but there is currently no electric or water supply in the area, according to Councilor El Cid Familiaran. “The P10,000 offer is not enough, and it can’t even pay for the construction of a septic tank for each household,” Colegado said. The barangay chairman has appealed to the Araneta family and Megaworld to increase the financial assistance to P50,000, and to temporarily suspend any road closures at the BMMC compound. Familiaran, meanwhile, said due to the delays of installing power lines, Megaworld has already taken the initiative and started installation on the relocation site./ Watchmen Daily Journal By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga BACOLOD City Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia asked Regional Trial Court Branch 42 Judge Fernando Elumba for an extension to answer the petition filed against the City Board of Canvassers (CBOC) by the supporters of Pamilya Magbinuligay Kita sa Kauswagan (MKK). Majarucon-Sia said they received a summon last Friday following the civil case filed by the complainants who sought a manual recount or audit of ballots cast in the last elections. She will file today a petition for an extension to file an answer since she still have to refer the case to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Law Department, she said. The petitioners in Civil Case 1604, represented by legal counsels Lyndon Caña and Joel Cabalatungan, are Richard Calulut, Rufino Alcala, Rodelyn Jagunap, Lope Ledesma Jr., Levy Cadagat Jr., Rodolfo Robles Jr., Banni Macapodi, Nelson Reyes, Rosanna Ilon, Jose Jessie Bantigue, Madeline Diaz, Salvacion Penuela, Febe Legaspi, Joji Agbas, Emilia Lopez, Edgardo Emilia, Jessel Sombilla and Stella Alfabeto. The petition was filed against the BOC chaired by Sia and City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe. The petitioners said they were “deprived of the right to know how their votes were tallied, appreciated, totaled and/or canvassed and since this suit is to enforce a constitutional right, jurisdiction is properly with the RTC and not with the Comelec.” Caña, a former Bacolod councilor, said the main objective is not really to unseat people, which is the function of the election protest which was filed before the Comelec. “This petition seeks the truth by way of manual recount or audit. They want that the votes will be canvassed manually because the theory is the right of the voter to view the manner of tabulating the total votes cast was not given by the system. The automated election simply gave a receipt to the voters wherein those whom he or she voted were only registered by the machine,” Caña said. MKK congressional candidate Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who got 84,431 votes, was defeated by Greg Gasataya of Grupo Progreso (GP), who garnered 85,467 votes. Reelectionist Mayor Monico Puentevella, who obtained 97,993 votes, lost to GP’s Representative Evelio Leonardia, who got 120,231 votes. MKK vice mayoral candidate Vladimir Gonzalez, with 86,611 votes, also bowed to GP’s Councilor El Cid Familiaran, who obtained 108,360 votes. (CNC) Sun Star Bacolod THE deadline for the filing of the statement of contributions and expenditures (Soce) is set at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 8. Negros Occidental Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said all winning and losing candidates are required to submit their poll expenses report, or they will be committing an election offense. As of Tuesday, seven candidates for provincial and national posts in Negros Occidental have filed their list of expenses before the Comelec Provincial Office. First District Representative-elect Melecio Yap Jr. spent P186,000, based on his Soce. Incoming First District Board Member Antonio Encarquez reported shelling out P108,430 during his campaign. Sixth Representative Mercedes Alvarez and Board Member Pedro Zayco have also filed their Soce documents. Others were re-elected Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, and Fourth District Board Member Victor Javellana. In Bacolod, Vice Mayor-elect El Cid Familiaran and Councilor-elect Renecito Novero were the first to file their Soce papers last May 31. Congressman-elect Greg Gasataya and re-elected Councilor Caesar Distrito also filed their Soces Tuesday. (With reports from TDE/CNC) Sun Star Bacolod Upon assumption of office on July 1, 2016, El Cid Familiaran as vice mayor, will chair the special committee known as Legislative/Executive Conference Liaison Committee. This committee will act as facilitator of businesses between the legislative body which is the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and the Executive Body which is the Mayor’s Office. Also, the new set of members of Sangguniang Panlungsod will identify the chairmen of 28 committees during their inaugural session on July 6. Initial report reveals that the committee on laws and governance presently chaired by Councilor Ana Marie Palermo will be handled by Coun. Ceasar Distrito, who has chaired the said committee during the Leonardia administration. The education committee will be chaired by Coun. Renecito Novero (presently by Coun. Archie Baribar); finance committee by Coun. Dindo Ramos (from Coun. Kalaw Puentevella); transportation committee by Coun. Ricardo Tan. Others will be known during their inaugural session. Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to conduct orientation with the new local government officials after their assumption into office. The said orientation will be conducted by the Local Government Academy of DILG, wherein the new local officials will be oriented on their tasks and what to do in the first 100 days of their office. In Bacolod City, the new local government officials expected to attend are Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and all councilors who will assume office on July Negros Daily Bulletin Submitted by Edith Colmo Brgy. 41 access road closed, despite SP resolution Brgy. Chairman asking for higher relocation funds6/8/2016 Hundreds of families living at the former compound of the Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company (BMMC) in Barangay 41 cried foul over the closure of their access road going to their residences. Brgy. 41 Chairman Leonilo Colegado, along with several of his kagawads, requested assistance from the city government, Tuesday morning. According to Colegado, the property has recently been purchased by the Megaworld from the Araneta family to develop the 34-hectare property into a township. On June 1, their access road heading to Barangay 21 was opened following a resolution by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) requesting the owners to open the road. However, the following day, the owners closed the road again cutting off the residents. Colegado also said the developer and property owner offered P10,000 to each family that are willing to leave the property, but most preferred to stay citing the financial assistance was not enough. A relocation site for the families in Brgy. Vista Alegre was also offered, but there is currently no electric or water supply in the area, according to Councilor El Cid Familiaran. “The P10,000 offer is not enough, and it can’t even pay for the construction of a septic tank for each household,” Colegado said. The barangay chairman has appealed to the Araneta family and Megaworld to increase the financial assistance to P50,000, and to temporarily suspend any road closures at the BMMC compound. Familiaran, meanwhile, said due to the delays of installing power lines, Megaworld has already taken the initiative and started installation on the relocation site. Watchmen Daily Journal By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga |
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