First, his status as a Daanbantayan town registered voter was questioned. Second, was his slim 104-vote margin victory over former Bogo mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III.
But over two months since the May 14 elections, Salimbangon was finally declared winner last Monday. He took his oath of office before Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia last Saturday.
A father of seven, the 62-year-old Salimbangon is a licensed mechanical engineer serving as marketing director of the MCF Property Ventures, a firm owned by his philanthropist sister, Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung.
Salimbangon was born and raised in Curva, Medellin town. His election as fourth district congressman is his second elective post after representing the district for two terms as Provincial Board member in 1991.
Prior to that, he served as budget officer and administrative officer of former Medellin Mayor Cipriano Noynay in the early 70s.
In 1998, he ran against and lost to former congresswoman Clavel Asas-Martinez, Tining’s mother.
Salimbangon also got appointed as Cebu Electric Cooperative (Cebeco) III president, later becoming its general manager when Eduardo Gullas was Cebu governor.
He spent 11 years with Cebeco, managing electric cooperatives in Bantayan Island, Camotes Island and Siquijor province.
He was a multi-awarded manager, being a recipient of the Outstanding General Manager Award for electric cooperatives from 1984 to 1989. He resigned from Cebeco in 1989 and managed Atlas Prawn Corp. in 1990 before deciding to run for for public office in 1991.
What made you decide to revive your political career?
It was really a long decision. In fact, I also had sleepless nights thinking about it kay niagi na ug kapildi ba (because I already went through a loss), and knowing the entrenched political organization of the Martinez family. After I lost (in 1998), I was entertaining the idea of running again; so dugay gyud ko naka-decide (it took me some time to decide) until I went around the district and made some consultations.
After the consultations, I saw the need; but I talked with my family members first, and they said that they will support me all the way. When the family made that decision, I agreed to run.
The fourth district is a known bailiwick of the Martinezes. How did you manage to win and what strategies did you pull off?
It was they who made me popular. If you would recall, even my registration, they made it an issue, and while they were saying I will not run and I was a nobody, nganong sige man gihapon sila ug atake nako? Mao to ang nakapasamot sa akong ka-determined...Free ang akong advertisement (they kept on attacking me. And it made me more determined to run. I actually got free advertisement). But I think, the people really want change.
It was such a tough fight. You had to wait for so long. How did you manage bear the long wait?
Ang nakahatag gyud sa akong kusog ug determination, ang mga tawo gyud (The people gave me the strength and determination to endure it all). They keep calling me and they keep texting me ‘please don’t give up, we are praying for you’.”
Do you think there was a way that chaos during the Bogo elections could have been prevented?
Ang angay gyud unta ilang gibuhat, gipaspasan gyud unta ang canvassing sa Bogo. Nakasabot man gyud mi nga duna gyud binuang kay nganong hinay man gyud kayo. Sa second day, lima or unom ra ang na-canvass sa whole day...Kun gipaspasan unta didto sa Bogo, di na ni magubot. In a matter of two days, humana unta, daug na.
Do you believe that there was really cheating?
Yes of course, I was there! Massive gyud sa Bogo lang (In Bogo alone, cheating was already massive).
What are your steps now to identify and prosecute those who were involved?
Our lawyers are taking care of it and they are preparing charges against Election Officer Jose Meguez, Election Assistant Mylene Pitogo and Treasurer Rhett Menguez kay sila man ang (because they were the) custodians. The teachers signed affidavits nga wa gyud na nila binuangi (that they did not tamper with the ERs). Ang statement of votes ilang gipirmahan unya ilang gi-turn over sa treasurer (they signed it and turned it over to the treasurer). I believe nga sa municipal level ang cheating.
Aside from your legal moves, what do you think the Comelec should do in relation to all of these controversies?
The Comelec must act on this. It’s an insult to Comelec. You know, the dwindling credibility of Comelec, everybody is doubting Comelec because of what’s happening. If they don’t act on this, mura sila ug ni-conspire, tolerate or condone… Although ilaha nang tawo diha, wala na nagpasabot nga apil sila but if they don’t do something, masabot hinuon nga apil sila. So, I think Comelec should do something in order to restore the trust of the people.
Now that you have been proclaimed and have finally taken your oath of office, what are your priorities?
One of my priority bills is granting salaries to barangay officials instead of honorarium. Naa gyud unta minimum kay ang akong papa, barangay captain to for so long. Nakakita gyud ko sa trabaho sa kapitan. Siya maoy botika, siya ang police, siya ang host sa events, away sa magsuon, magtiayon, tanan, husgado pud siya unya way sweldo...I think mas deserving pa nga ang barangay captains ug barangay officials nga tagaan ug sweldo kaysa uban diha...But I know, dako kaayo ni nga trabaho kay it entails man gud a big national budget.
The other one is the reclassification of Bantayan Island and Malapascua Island because now, their classification is wilderness and timberland. Dili ma-titulohan ang mga yuta diha (lots there can’t be titled) and if we want to develop and invite investors, dili na sila mangadto (they won’t come) because they want complete ownership of the lots. Also, if matitulohan na, those land owners can go to the bank and borrow money so they can start their own businesses...As far as services is concerned, unahon nako na ang paghatag ug pundo sa (I’ll prioritize the giving of funds to) Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. I don’t know naa pa bay nahabilin sa countrywide development fund kay half-way na ra ba ta but definitely next year, naa gyud i-allocate sa Vicente Sotto.
What do you think are the problems in your district that need immediate attention?
Ang kinatibuk-an problema diha (the biggest problem here) is livelihood. Sugar farm laborers are only earning P40. Unsaon man na pagka-igo sa usa ka adlaw (that’s not enough for one day). That’s why there is child labor which is a violation of the law pero ang ginikanan mapugos kay wa naman lain (parents are forced to do it). If we can provide them with alternative programs for livelihood, then parents can send their children to school instead nga motrabaho.
Bogo needs additional high schools. Naay high schools diha but private. We need to put up more high schools in Bogo and other municipalities...Ang among tuyo karon is to set up different cooperatives in towns where we provide training and we will look for market of their products.
Also, we will try to invite investors from China. My brother-in-law, Carlos Yeung, said you better work on the infrastructure, improve your road network, communication, power and port facilities and put up a alternative airport. Then, I will invite investors. Kung makakuha ta bisan duha ka (if we can get even just two) investors, dako kaayo na ug impact (it will have a big impact). Ang mga tawo dili na magsalig sa (People won’t depend on the ) sugar industry.
What makes you better than Tining?
I don’t want to compare myself with anybody. I’m just an ordinary person but one thing I can tell you, I will work, I will work and I will work. That’s my secret in all my field of endeavors.
Are you open to reconciliation with the Martinezes?
Why not? Wa man mi personal nga away gawas sa politics. I want to have something that we can be remembered. Since we are committed to serve and now that I am a congressman, I will work and I will not think of politics anymore. Politics will come in the next elections.
Do you intend to resign from your present job?
I have to because I have to focus. I have to work as a congressman full time to avoid possible conflict of interest.
What’s your message to you constituents especially to the people of Bogo?
I will ask them to pray for unity, peace and for progress and they should give the newly elected officers a chance to serve. Anyway, we only have three years and let those three years pass with all the trust to be given to their new leaders regardless of political affiliations. And if we can’t perform, replace us in an honest manner.
After everything, who are the people you would like to thank?
First of all, I would like to thank C-Cimpel. I salute C-Cimpel because if not for C-Cimpel, wala gyud... That’s why, I will also sponsor a bill granting C-Cimpel allowance every elections kay di lalim nang volunteer ka, wa pa gyud kay pagkaon, way tulog...If you can give teachers allowances, why not the C-Cimpel volunteers but it has to be through Comelec.
