LP reacts to PNoy support
of Grupo Progreso

The Bacolod City Liberal Party leadership yesterday renewed its support to the candidacy of Pamilya MKK standard bearer Monico Puentevella in the wake of the endorsement made by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III of Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and former Councilor Greg Gasataya.

In a statement they issued, LP Bacolod chairman Frank Carbon and chairman emeritus Andres Hagad said “the choice of one’s candidates during election is a matter of conscience and a determination of who will best represent one’s interest with Government”.

Both Carbon and Hagad also endorsed Lyndon Caña, a former city councilor, for the Lone District of Bacolod’s congressional seat, the MKK press release said.

“The majority of the members of Liberal Party in the City of Bacolod have earlier made their choices. We are sticking by them,” Carbon and Hagad said in a statement, an utter defiance to their party chief’s recent move in Cebu.

Roger Balderas, LP Bacolod campaign manager, claimed the endorsement of President Aquino of Leonardia, Sayson and Gasataya as Grupo Progreso congressional, mayoralty and vice mayoralty candidates, respectively, was definitely not in consonance with the Chief Executive’s campaign promise for “daang matuwid” (straight path).

“The President does not actually know what is really happening in our city. But we, the LP members in Bacolod, have seen how the city suffered from the many irregularities that can be attributed to the present administration,” the press release quoted him as saying.

PLUNDER RECALLED

Asked for comment on the MKK statement, Sayson asked, “Who deposited P50 million government funds to his personal account?” He was referring to the plunder case filed against Puentevella involving the Bacolod Southeast Asian Games funds.

Sayson said it was the President himself who endorsed them before thousands of supporters of Team PNoy in Cebu. Whatever they say, it was an authentic endorsement from the President.

He said they were called to go to Cebu by Team PNoy campaign manager Franklin Drilon.

Gasataya said he does not want to dignify the MKK pronouncements.

“I think it is unfair to make such a statement against the President. They should know that there is a protocol that should be observed and one cannot just ask the President to act on something. They should give the necessary respect to the decision he makes,” he said.

SOURGRAPING

Leonardia said they are making the President appear like he does not know what he is doing.

“That is sour-grapping at its worst form. That is not only ridiculous, but deplorable,” he said.

Leonardia said that a day before they were endorsed, the President asked them who their opponents were and they told him, so he was fully aware of who are the candidates here. The President knows what he is doing.

These are people who do not know how to follow and respect their leaders, so what do you expect from them? he asked.

Leonardia said it is Hagad who should explain why he is in that group (referring to Pamilya MKK). If he defies his party officials, he should not be with the LP.

However, everybody is entitled to his opinion, he said, but added that this kind of comment can be expected from anyone, but not from people who claim to be righteous and holy.*CGS

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Farmers, fishers groups
endorse NPC-GP

The Nationalist People's Coalition-Grupo Progreso, headed by congressional bet Evelio Leonardia, mayoralty bet Jude Thaddeus Sayson and vice mayoralty candidate Greg Gasataya, was endorsed by the farmers and fishers organizations in Bacolod Sunday, a press release from the NPC-GP said.

The Paghili-ugyon sang mga Bacolodnon nga naga Pangabuhi sa Kaumhan, and the Paghili-ugyon sang mga Bacolodnon nga naga Pangabuhi sa Baybayon, passed separate resolutions endorsing the candidacy of all in the NPC-GP lineup, and said the city government, under Mayor Leonardia, provided their associations with financial, technical and institutional support.

The fishers’ resolution was signed by Jessie Cris Andas, chair of the BPMFMC Barangay Punta Taytay; Joseph Benjamin of KISFA in Bgry. Banago; Elma Cantilla, president of VENA of Tangub; Leo Garque of BAGOSFA, Banago; Reiner Gella, SPGA of barangays 10, 11 and 12;

Antonio Gainga, CASFA Brgy. Singcang-Airport; Alexander Ewayan, TKADMA Singcang-Airport; Evelyn Benedicto, GPSFISBA Banago; Jovy Monteclaro, BAGSFA Banago; Michael Benjamin, BAHASFA Banago; Romeo Guilala, Purok Sigay Fisher Folk Association; and Ricardo Rillo, VEMFA Villa Esperanza Tangub, the press release also said.

The farmers’ endorsement was led by Ruben Villaluna, chair of BFRPMCO Alangilan; Nestor Pagunsan, KAPISAN; Edgardo Mitchao, TASFA; Alfreda Quilatan, BBSFA; Reynaldo Ramirez, KASANAG; Adoriano Ogayahona, ESFA; Leonilo Maiti, ISFA Pahanocoy; Ely Hermida Sr., ISFA Cabug; Crecenciano Britania, Irrigators Farmers Association; Renato Ison, Kabutungan Farmers Cooperative; and Agnes Santillana of ECOAID-Bacolod.

On Saturday, the NPC-GP was endorsed by the Bacolod Integrated Trisikad Operators and Drivers Association Inc., a federation of trisikad associations with 10,000-strong registered members, the press release said.

The Urban Poor/Community Mortgage Program beneficiaries in Brgy. Tangub also said they are supporting the candidacy of Sayson, its press release said.

Noel Palencia, president of the Greenfields Homeowners Association of Tangub, said Sayson helped them in fast-tracking the implementation of their CMP program, the press release added.*

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Body formed for
115th Independence

A committee for the 115th Philippine Charter Day celebration in Bacolod City in June has been formed through an executive order signed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia last week.

The Committee will be headed by Leonardia as honorary chairman, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson as honorary vice chairman and City Administrator John Orola as executive director.

The Committee will be divided into three groups, or research and documentation; engineering, design and physical arrangement; and security, traffic and safety.

Research and promotions will be headed by Rodel Parcon as chairman; and the engineering, design and physical arrangement by Belly Aguillon.

Bacolod City Police officer-in-charge, Senior Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel, is in charge of security, traffic and safety of participants in the celebration of the Philippine Independence day.

The Independence Day celebration, incidentally, also falls on the same month that Bacolod is celebrating the 75th year of the signing of the city’s charter.*APN

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