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Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Oro mayoral bet backers rally, demand pay
By Danilo V. Adorador III
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Former supporters of a losing mayoral candidate in Cagayan de Oro held a rally Tuesday to denounce the bet's failure to pay them for services rendered during the May 14 elections.
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Unlike before when they praised their candidate, protesters had nothing but curses for mayoral candidate Antonio Calingin, a former Misamis Oriental governor who ran under the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).
Carrying invective placards and streamers, about 50 former Calingin supporters marched from the Capitol grounds to the Freedom Kiosk in Divisoria, where they aired their gripes and demanded that Calingin pay up.
However, in earlier broadcast interviews, Calingin said they would pay for the services of their followers despite their losses in the recent elections.
Calingin's son, Andy, also made the same assurance during a local radio interview but did not say when the payments will be made.
The protesters, who said they served as Calingin's watchers, zone and barangay leaders, emcees, entertainers and cooks, alleged that Calingin did not fulfill his promise to pay and instead vanished from the public eye a day after the elections.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro tried but failed to reach Calingin for his comment. But in a statement to various media outlets last week, Calingin reportedly said he would settle his dues in due time.
Boy Madae, who worked as an emcee for Calingin's rallies in the first district, said they heard that the NPC released P8 million as campaign fund to Calingin two weeks before the election.
"He hasn't paid us still. He tricked us and robbed us of what should have been due to us. He's a cheat," Madae told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Madae estimated that Calingin owed them about P3 million--supposedly divided among five to seven party workers in each of the city's 80 barangays.
In addition, the singers, cooks, drivers, and transport services hired during the thick of the campaign haven't been paid yet, Madae said.
Calingin reportedly bought two brand new luxury cars days before the elections.
His son, incumbent Claveria town Mayor Rocky, lost his reelection bid. Another son, Andy, lost the House race in Misamis Oriental's second district. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (June 6, 2007 issue)
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