Vice Mayoralty bets El Cid Familiaran and Vladimir ‘Vladi’ Gonzalez lashed out at each other during a debate hosted by Bombo Radyo-Bacolod, Wednesday morning.
The candidates were each given two minutes to answer questions and 30 seconds for rebuttals. Among the topics discussed were the candidates’ net worth, the city’s crime rate, infrastructure, and business. However, the current problem at the Manokan Country stood as the candidates’ main argument. Things heated up after Gonzalez accused Familiaran of defending “personal business interests” for Stall 23 of the Manokan Country. “You covered it up when you became Councilor, and you are abusing your power in which you are making the ordinances and you are also the direct beneficiary,” Gonzalez charged. Familiaran fired back by questioning his opponent on how he could protect the public’s interest if he is Vice Mayor and, at the same time, maintaining his real estate business. “I’m not a dumb businessman; how can you not influence the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) if you are also an active real estate developer?” Familiaran questioned. Familiaran also inadvertently protected re-electionist Mayor Monico Puentevella, when Gonzalez challenged him over the drainage system project at Puentebella Subd. in Brgy. Taculing which is located near his residence. “It’s easy to deny, but if you are a public official, out of delicadeza you should have told them to move the project a little bit farther so there would be no malicious intent over the project,” Gonzalez stated. El Cid then countered saying, “You are trying to question me when in fact your running partner (Monico) also fixed the road and drainage system leading to his home. Are you trying to blame the Mayor as well?” Familiaran also commented regardless with whoever wins the mayoral seat, he will still be a “team player” to the winning administration. Despite the heated argument between both candidates, they did agree that prioritizing education and the introduction of livelihood projects is the answer to the growing criminality in Bacolod, and the need for a better police force in maintaining the city’s public safety. Familiaran stated the ideal police to population ratio to maintain peace and order is one police officer per 500 persons. “Our current population is above 600,000 and we only have 705 active duty police officers. We need another 500,” he said. Familiaran further added, besides the need for more police officers, the 10 police stations in the city will also need new vehicles in order to perform their duties efficiently. Gonzalez, meanwhile, said he will convince and encourage the SP to increase the budget for the city’s police force and further strengthen ties with other law enforcement agencies, like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). “We already identified the drug-ravaged barangays, so we need to fight back,” he said. Monico reacts to inadvertent endorsement from El Cid During Familiaran’s closing statement, he mistakenly offered an endorsement to Puentevella for mayor, saying, “Ang amon mayor, si Monico,” after endorsing Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya for congress. The councilor is the running mate of Bacolod City Rep. Evelio R. Leonardia. Familiaran quickly corrected the mistake, and even posted a clarification on Facebook, but the incumbent mayor didn’t let it go so quickly. Puentevella put out a tongue-in-cheek press release offering his appreciation for the endorsement, claiming the endorsement came from Familiaran’s “inner sentiments.” The two were former political allies, with Familiaran on the council slate of the MoNoPal banner, led by Puentevella, Councilor Ana Marie Palermo for vice mayor, and Renecito Novero as candidate for Lone District of Bacolod Representative. /WDJ Watchmen Daily Journal By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
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