Puentevella behind Julius Sayson's candidacy: councilors

THE entry of Julius Sayson as one of the candidates for Bacolod City mayor was the handiwork of mayoralty candidate Monico Puentevella, said Councilors Al Victor Espino and Dino Ramos.

The two reacted after they were tagged as the masterminds behind Sayson’s candidacy, together with Councilor Homer Bais.

Sayson is running against two political giants: his relative Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Puentevella.

"See the pattern of the modus operandi. When former councilor Alex Paglumotan filed his candidacy for councilor in the past years, there was also a Paglumotan who filed for the same post. Such is style and modus operandi of Puentevella. In the Facebook account of Julius Sayson, he declares there that he is supporting Puentevella. His former boss was then Granada punong barangay Sally Sombilla and that he is an employee of the barangay. Sombilla is an ardent and loyal supporter of Monico. He even campaigned against Councilor Ramos in the last election," said Espino.

He said the accusation against him is baseless. “There are three types of persons who could make such accusation - unintelligent, somebody who does not understand, and liars.”

Ramos, for his part, said that Julius Sayson campaigned against him.

"The best persons who knew Julius Sayson are his neighbors in Granada because they know his political leanings and if we control him or not," he said.

Puentevella denied, however, having a hand in the filing of candidacy for mayor by Sayson of Barangay Granada.

"I categorically deny any involvement with this case. This is a family squabble and I don't want to be involved. I do not need this gimmick. I have too much respect for Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and his cousin. I hope they can settle their problem as soon as possible," said Puentevella.

Vice Mayor Sayson, for his part, reiterated that he will file a case against his relative to declare him as a nuisance candidate.

He also appealed to Bacolodnons to be watchful for such kind of dirty tactics by the opponents.

"We are trying to keep a clean and honest election. This tactic belongs to dirty politics that does not have a place in the modern times. Our detractors even twisted that the three councilors were being charged as mastermind of this. But I don't believe them. They did this in 2010," the vice mayor said.

But Julius Sayson stressed that nobody influenced him to run for the position.

"I am a self-employed man, a fruit vendor but at the same time a volunteer firefighter at Barangay Granada. I have served as a barangay staff before. Public service had already been my calling. It might be not as glamorous and colorful as that of my opponents' political career but, in my own simple way, I am pretty sure I have touched many lives already," he said.

He said Vice Mayor Sayson is his uncle, but he has his own reasons for running as mayor.

He also admitted that there was never a formal talk between him and his family regarding his plans.

"Judge me not based on my status, based not on my family name, based not on my age, not on my looks neither based on my capacity to spend millions during election day. However, judge me base on my vision for Bacolod and my aspiration to contribute something good for our city," he appealed.

He said the Bacolodnons deserve an option and he believes that not all people can be bought by money.

Julius Sayson anchors his platform of government on the so-called “YES Bacolod,” which represents his program on Youth, Employment and Services.

"I promise I will put up a good fight come election time. I will not be coward even my opponents are giants in the field of politics," he said.