Village bet rues negative publicity

A BARANGAY councilor seeking reelection denied that his term has already expired and is no longer eligible to run in the same position in the October 25 barangay elections.

Ariel Nambatac, a candidate for reelection in Barangay Indahag, said all the negative reports about his candidacy are not true.

Nambatac first ran and won in the 1997 barangay elections but he has not fully served his first term as barangay councilor because he was suspended for five months due to corruption charges.

He ran again in the 2002 and 2007 elections, respectively, and won in both contests.

Nambatac said a decision by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Northern Mindanao allows him to run for reelection in the Oct. 25 barangay elections.

The DILG ruled that Nambatac could still run in the same post in this year’s election due to an “interruption” during his first term.

No one has formally questioned his candidacy so far, but Nambatac said he is ready for such petitions.

Despite of the DILG decision, Nambatac said his detractors still want him disqualified. He said he will reproduce the DILG decision to show to the people his good intentions. (Loui S. Maliza)