Puentevella laughs off VM’s 'impossible dream'

MKK mayoralty candidate Monico O. Puentevella expressed amusement over NPC Grupo Progreso mayoralty candidate Bacolod Vice-Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson's statement that he will lose in the May 2013 elections.

Sayson said Puentevella is expected to file an election protest when he beats him in the May 2013 polls, just like what Puentevella did when he lost to Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia in the 2010 polls.

Sayson issued the statement after the Commission on Elections dismissed very recently Puentevella’s petition for a recount against his 2010 mayoralty foe, Leonardia.

In reaction to Sayson’s remark, the former lawmaker simply cited the first line of a very popular song, "To dream the impossible dream", apparently referring to Sayson’s goal of winning Bacolod’s top elective post against him.

Puentevella has shown confidence that he has an edge over Sayson but Sayson also believes that he will win the election.

Sayson said the people’s suspicions regarding Puentevella’s involvement in all the issues and cases filed with the Ombudsman against Sayson and Leonardia, citing the controversial purchase of the land intended for the establishment of a public plaza and gym in Barangay Bata, will drive the voters away from Puentevella.

Sayson said Puentevella has been engaging in traditional and dirty tactics, just like in the case of Julius Sayson who filed his certificate of candidacy for the mayoralty of Bacolod, withdrew it and now plans to recall his withdrawal.

The vice-mayor said he believes it is no other than Puentevella who is behind the candidacy of his namesake to confuse the public and shave off votes intended for the vice-mayor.
Sayson pointed out that Puentevella does not deserve the trust of the people because he never accepted graciously his defeat against Leonardia in the 2010 polls.

And his tactics now are below the belt, Sayson stressed.

He added that, should he win the election, he expects Puentevella to file a protest because there is already a pattern in the former lawmaker’s tendency and behavior.

On the other hand, Puentevella said the Comelec decision on the recount does not matter anymore to him because he is focusing his time in giving Sayson a good battle in the May 2013 polls.

The recount does not matter anymore and Sayson should expect a show time, said Puentevella.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said he never cast doubts on the result of election because it was clear that he won over Puentevella.

There were 307 precincts which were questioned by Puentevella in 2010 but, because it was too expensive to subject it all to a recount, then he just protested the precincts where Leonardia won and left the precincts that Puentevella won, saying that the PCOS machines performed well in the precincts that Puentevella won and never on the precincts that Leonardia won.

Late last week, the Comelec First Division had already dismissed the petition for recount.