Friday, March 30, 2007 3 ex-mayors back Performance Team By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan and Nicolas C. Delfin
THE Performance Team or Lucky 13 of incumbent Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella and former mayor Joy Valdez of Lakas-Kampi will be supported by three former mayors and a former vice mayor in the city.
These are former mayors Alfredo Montelibano, Rematche Parreño, and Rolando Villamor and former vice mayor Ramiro "Chick" Garcia.
The four will show up at the public plaza Friday night for the Team Performance's opening salvo.
In a press conference at his campaign headquarters right after their filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs), Puentevella told mediamen that he was flattered to know this kind of development.
At least, they believe in our team and have trusted us to deliver the 13 priority programs that we are soon ready to implement, Puentevella said.
These include the peace and order; health care and social services, infrastructure and support development; investment promotion; revenue generation livelihood and employment; food sufficiency and security; grassroot empowerment; local (barangay) development; colaborative efforts; youth/sports/cultural development and sectoral concerns.
On Danding, Palanca, Marañon
Puentevella also refused to believe talks that former ambassador Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, real estate mogul Simplicio Palanca, and Governor Joseph Marañon are backing his opponent Vice Mayor Renecito Novero.
"The same talk I heard when I ran in 2001 and 2004. But I am unfazed by this talk because I know that we should not beholden to anyone but only to God and the people," he stressed.
He said Cojuangco, Palanca, and Marañon are all his friends too, so he doesn't believe that these people will support anyone or Novero against him.
Puentevella was not bothered by Alex Paglumotan's transfer to Novero-Leonardia-Sayson ticket.
I wish him good luck, Puentevella said on Paglumotan who once served as his "barker" against his opponent former congressman John Orola in 2004.
Puentevella helped on the appointment of Paglumotan as commissioner of the Games and Amusement Board.
Always ready
The lawmaker said he is always ready for any battle as he stressed his motto in life: "Let's do our best and God will do the rest."
Asked about the issue on new government center project, Puentevella said, "I'm tired of issues now. I just want to have focus on helping my constituents because ever since that's what I am doing."
He said his congressional office has served as an extension of Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.
High profile campaign
Like Governor Marañon, the lawmaker is also hoping for a higher-level political campaign.
"I think we should set our campaign on the level of performance and not on propagandas," he said.
Instead of wasting money for black progandas, we should rather use it for something that could benefit the people and our supporters, Puentevella said, adding, "Let us be statesman and work for performance."
Puentevella's Performance Team includes Valdez for Mayor and Elmer Sy for vice mayor.
While their 10 councilors dubbed as the "Magnificent 10" include re-electionist Councilors Reynold Iledan and Catalino Alisbo, former City Engineer Loreto Dilag, Barangay Captain El Cid Familiaran, former councilor Bobby Lucasan, Rotarian Nanette Garcia, Barangay Captain Andre Victor Las Piñas, lawyers Marvin Tañada and Inocencio "Puaki" Ferrer Jr., and Monico "Nicky Boy" Puentevella, Jr.
Non-performance Asked why he chooses to run with Valdez and Sy, he replied, "After thorough consultations with the barangay leaders, we found out that the administration seems to have no performance especially when it comes to the problems in traffic, water, electricity, flood and livelihood."
"I think with our present tandem, we can deliver sufficient service to the barangays and we believe that as long as the Lucky 13 stays, we'll be given the chance to render more development to the city," he said.
"The Big City is ready for its big price with the Lucky 13 of the Performance Team," he added.
Magic number
Valdez said its Lucky 13 since, "Biblically speaking, 13 is a magic number that is why we went for the magnificent 10 for councilors plus three of us -- me, Newks and Elmer, so we're 13 all in all."
"Whoever will be the duo from other group to join our leadership after election, then, it would be their choice to either support us or not, besides, we still believe that there are very good candidates among the independents that might surely win this May 2007 elections," the former mayor added.
Valdez is confident that their machinery will deliver a straight vote for their party.
"My only assurance is that the people will never regret to see Bacolod moving on with the Lucky 13," she added.
One vision, one direction
"We are in one vision, one direction to give service back to the people of Bacolod. We believe that the performance of the present administration has failed to give courtesy and look on the welfare of each barangay," Valdez said.
Asked to why she joined Puentevella, she said, after measuring the latter's performance, she found that it is beyond what she and the people has expected.
"He did only not work as a legislator but he almost do the work of the mayor because the services of the administration is not barely enough," she added.
