Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Politicians dip fingers in Mati barangay, SK polls By Ben O. Tesiorna
DESPITE appeals for politicians not to meddle in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, some could not resist dipping their fingers in what was supposed to be a non-partisan election.
At the same time, a promise by the City Government of Mati to extend P1 million yearly assistance to each of the city's 26 barangays starting next year made Monday's barangay elections more hotly contested than the previous ones.
Reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that five top politicians in Davao Oriental and the City of Mati have supported some candidates through logistical assistance.
The politicians identified to have supported some candidates are Gov. Corazon Malanyaon, Vice Governor Mayo Almario, Representative Thelma Almario, Mayor Michelle Rabat, and Vice Mayor Cesar de Erio.
Monetary assistance and other aids were allegedly given by these five elective officials to their "chosen" candidates.
These "chosen" candidates are known as the "five-star candidates" whose chances were boosted due to the support coming from these politicians.
Efforts to get reaction from the five politicians proved futile as of Monday.
But an aide of one of the politicians said they are merely paying their "utang na loob" to people who supported them during the May 14 elections.
The aide denied though that they have "anointed candidates" in every barangay.
"Our policy is we support those who supported us before. Pero di kami namimili ng isa lang sa bawat barangays (We don't support only one candidate from each barangay). We have supported about two to three candidates in some barangays running for the same position because may utang na loob kami sa kanila (we have a debt to them)," the aide who requested anonymity said.
Mati Comelec officer Ali Sangcopan however expects the barangay and SK polls in their area to be violence-free.
"So far the candidates subscribed to maintain peace and order in the candidates' briefing and signing of the peace covenant we had," Sangcopan said.
Asked if they received reports or complaints about the involvement of politicians in the elections, Sangcopan replied in the negative.
Meanwhile, it was learned that the number of candidates for the barangay elections this time around has swelled after the City Government of Mati promised to give P1 million yearly assistance to each barangays starting next year.
A check with the Commission on Elections in Mati showed that 79 candidates are running for the positionof barangay captain in all of the 26 villages. Barangay councilmen candidates numbered to 826. Running for the SK chairmanship are 79 candidates and 364 for SK councilmen.
Though they already have lost their records as to the number of candidates in the last barangay elections in 2002, Comelec employees said the number this year is definitely greater than the past elections.
Richard Villacorte, aide to City of Mati Mayor Michelle Rabat, said some incumbent barangay officials even wanted the chief executive to keep the P1 million-assistance a secret until the barangay election is over.
But Rabat did not bow to the barangay officials' request and promised all Matiños the P1 million-assistance in exchange for the ratification of the cityhood of Mati.
