Sunday, December 30, 2007 DILG calls for special polls By Oscar C. Pineda Sun.Star Staff Reporter
* Outgoing ABC president Joy Ouano limits the election to 13 of 27 barangay captains, even if everyone was present, saying only those who’ve paid their dues can join
* DILG advises her against this policy, points out that captains can be asked to hand in promissory notes, which most of the barangay leaders had ready
* 18 of the 19 who walked out hold their own elections, also in the CICC, picking Glen Bercede as president, but DILG director says neither Bercede nor Ouano can assume office
TWO factions held separate elections in the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Mandaue City yesterday, but neither group’s “winners” can assume office.
Instead, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) declared a failure of elections, for lack of quorum, and further declared all ABC seats in that city vacant.
Of the 27 barangay captains in Mandaue, 19 walked out of the room where they met in the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), after outgoing ABC president Joy Ouano announced that only 13 were qualified to vote.
The rest, she said, had unpaid monthly dues and could not join.
Ouano, a sister of former mayor Thadeo Ouano, is known to be sympathetic to the administration of Mayor Jonas Cortes. But so is her rival for the ABC presidency, Banilad Barangay Captain Glen Bercede.
After walking out, the 18 of the 19 leaders—supporters of the Cortes administration—held their own election in another room of the CICC and declared Bercede as the new ABC president.
They also picked Tony Dabon of Maguikay as vice president and Carmelo Del Mar of Ibabao-Estancia as auditor.
They tried to invite DILG Regional Director Pedro Noval to their election but the official declined and remained in the CICC lobby instead.
Noval declared both elections as failures, and added that the DILG central office and the National Liga ng mga Barangay will set a date for a special election in Mandaue City soon.
Bercede said they will again attend this special election.
Majority
Noval attended Mandaue City’s ABC election, expecting it would be the most hotly contested in the province. He assisted DILG officer Louella Lucino, chairperson of the Board of Election Supervisors.
When sought for reaction, Mayor Jonas Cortes said the essence of democracy is that the majority prevails, and based on what happened yesterday, “The Liga has spoken loud and clear”—referring to the 19 barangay captains who walked out of the room.
“They should be humble in victory and graceful in defeat,” said Cortes of the two contenders for the presidency.
Ouano, however, insisted there was a quorum and showed the DILG officials the attendance sheet signed by all 27 barangay captains in the city.
But Noval said the attendance sheet couldn’t negate the fact that most of the barangay captains walked out and did not participate in the election that Ouano “won”.
Even Noval went out of the room when Ouano refused to recognize the DILG’s supervisory role over the exercise.
IOU acceptable
Noval added that DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno already issued a memorandum on the deferment of payment by barangay captains, who may be asked to sign a promissory note.
The priority is to make sure as many captains as possible can join the elections, he added.
Bercede, in an interview after their own election, said they already expected Ouano to do everything to “disrupt” the ABC election as early as Dec. 22. That was the day Bercede and his group of 20 barangay captains went to Ouano’s house in Barangay Opao to get voters’ credentials.
He said that Ouano shooed them away and told them that she would give what they were asking for during the ABC election.
Bercede said they prepared their promissory notes, just in case.
Before the election could start, Ouano asked all reporters and photographers to step out of the room. She also reportedly ordered all the barangay officials to switch off their mobile phones.
Ouano then asked an ABC committee about the status of each member, and announced that only 13 barangay captains were eligible to participate in the election.
Advantage
Of the 13, Bercede said, only five were allied with him, while eight were supporters of Ouano.
That’s when Bercede and the other barangay captains walked out. He admitted he has yet to pay his monthly dues.
He said they also tried to submit their promissory notes to Ouano, but she refused to let them vote.
Sun.Star tried to call up Ouano on her mobile phone but got no answer.
The six barangay captains who remained in the room with Ouano were Alang-Alang Barangay Captain Aquilino Cabahug; Cambaro’s Vicente Domasian; Jagobiao’s Editha Montessa; Taboc’s Dario Tariman; Tipolo’s Restituto Villanueva; and Umapad’s Zaldy Lumapas.
Subangdaku Barangay Captain Walter Dy and Labogon Barangay Captain Damaso Tumulak reportedly went home, but promised to attend again once a special election is called. (OCP)
