AT LEAST four tandems have confirmed their intention to run for mayor and vice mayor in Dumaguete City for the May 2010 local and national synchronize elections.

The four are Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling with Jupert Remollo, City Administrator Dominador Dumalag Jr. with former Vice Mayor William Ablong, City Councilors Manuel Sagarbarria with Rommel Erames, and former Provincial Board member Arturo Umbac with former councilor Samuel Dicen.

Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo

Maquiling told Sun.Star that his political adviser, former city mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, pushed him to run for mayor in Dumaguete City.

He said Remollo also convinced his younger brother Jupert to run for vice mayor.

The younger Remollo was former chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Dumaguete District Office during the older Remollo's administration.

The older Remollo's administration ended after he lost to Mayor Agustin Perdices in 2001.

Maquiling, on the other hand, lost to former vice mayor Ablong in 2001 but won as vice mayor in 2007.

Perdices, whose term will end on June next year, reportedly endorses City Administrator Dominador Dumalag Jr.

Dumalag confirmed that he will seek for the mayoral post in 2010 but clarified that he is yet to inform Perdices about his plan.

In a separate interview, he said several groups in Dumaguete City pushed him to run for mayor with former vice mayor Ablong.

Perdices confirmed that Dumalag never informed him about his plan.

He also clarified that City Councilor Manuel Sagarbarria was the first to inform him of his intention to run for mayor in 2010 but he is yet to endorse him.

Governor Emilio Macias II and Representative George Arnaiz confirmed to support Sagarbarria for Mayor.

In a convention held Monday, majority of the Barangay chairmen in Dumaguete supported City Councilor Rommel Erames as Sagarbarria's tandem.

Out of 30 barangays in Dumaguete City, 27 of them voted Erames against City Councilor Franklin Esmeña. Erames and Esmeña are both lawyers by profession.

Batinguel Barangay chief Nilocas Ramirez and Tabuctubic Barangay chief Noel Talavera were both absent in the convention for unknown reason.

Dicen, on the other hand, confirmed to run for vice mayor under the ticket of former PB member Umbac. They are both lawyers by profession.

Umbac sought the mayoral set with Vice Mayor Maquiling in 2007 but he was defeated by then incumbent Mayor Perdices. He is still willing to re-seek mayoral post in 2010.

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete.

(January 1, 2009 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.