Some councilors bare plans for 2013 polls

MAJORITY of the first and second termer councilors already have their individual plans for the 2013 midterm elections. Some of them have decided to seek re-election while some are still undecided.

In Tuesday's regular session, 10 of the 19 first and second termer councilors granted interviews and shared their plans for the upcoming filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that is slated October 1-5.

Eight of these councilors told Sun.Star Davao that they have finally decided to seek re-election. They are Councilors Bernard Al-ag, Louie John Bonguyan, April Marie Dayap, Jimmy Dureza, Tomas Monteverde IV, Myrna L'Dalodo-Ortiz, Jackson Reyes, and Marissa Salvador-Abella.

On the other hand, Councilors Leah Librado-Yap and Al Ryan Alejandre said they are still undecided.

"First termer ko, pero dili pa gihapon nako na matubag kung mo dagan ba 'ko o dili (I'm first termer but I really cannot answer whether I will run or not)," Librado-Yap said in a brief interview during Tuesday's session.

Alejandre said he will just have to wait for Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, a quasi local political party in Davao City where most of the councilors belong.

Not one of the councilors interviewed said they don't have plans to run for re-election.

Of the 27 councilors of the 16th City Council, six of them are last termers -- Councilors Dante Apostol Sr., Conrado Baluran, Pilar Braga, Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, Edgar Ibuyan, and Jose Louie Villafuerte.

Preparations

Al-ag said before he decided to run in the upcoming elections, he said he consulted his family first.

"Gikunsulta sa nako sila kung okay lang ba sa ila nga mo dagan ko'g usab (I asked them first if it's okay with them if I will run for the second time)," he said.

While some of the councilors, who granted the interviews, said they already have preparations for their campaign next year, most of them said they are waiting for their respective groups' decision.

COC filing

Abella and Dureza said they will have a unique filing ritual.

For Abella's part, she said it has been her practice to attend mass in a specific church before she files her COC. She said she's been doing that for the last two filing period when she run for barangay captain and councilor. She said that ritual seemed effective for her.

But for Dureza, he said he will bring with him his daughter who will be arriving from the US when files his COC. (Jereco O. Paloma)