Wednesday, January 30, 2008 Angeles village chiefs trade fiery words over Liga issue By Ian Ocampo Flora
ANGELES CITY -- Barangay leaders who had elected different persons in two separate Liga ng mga Barangay (LB) elections here exchanged heated arguments over who should really sit as the league's president and ex-officio councilor during Tuesday's regular council session.
The discussion stemmed from the standoff between Barangay Pandan chairman Jerry Alejandrino and Barangay Cutcut chairman Robin Nepomuceno who, on separate events, were "elected" as LB presidents.
Alejandrino was elected on December 18 with 13 votes, while Nepomuceno was elected on December 29 with 18 votes from other barangay leaders in the city.
The talk last Tuesday was supposed to be attended by representatives from the National LB, Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The three, however, failed to attend the scheduled talk, leaving the barangay leaders and City Council members as the only ones who discussed the issue among themselves.
Barangay Pulung Bulu Gloria Tanjueco said the election held last December 18 followed the rule of law and was in accordance with the schedule set by the "general assembly of barangay leaders," which was attended by majority of barangay leaders from both camps.
Tanjueco claimed that Nepomuceno could not be hailed as the city LB president due to the fact he "did not file a certificate of candidacy" with the concerned committee.
"How can he be elected if he is not even a candidate," Tanjueco said, adding that the committee has been in place with the knowledge of the barangay leaders supportive of Nepomuceno.
Barangay Balibago chairman Tony Mamac refuted Tanjueco's statements, saying they have questioned the creation of the committee, pointing that such should be under the supervision of the DILG.
"We maintain that the December 29 election is the official one since it was supervised by the DILG and in accordance with existing circulars," Mamac said.
He also criticized the December 18 election, saying that 13 votes did not constitute a majority.
Mamac was among the 18 barangay leaders who elected Nepomuceno on the December 29. He argued that Alejandrino's group should observe the rule of the majority.
Despite the talk, there was no clear resolution on the issue.
Both Alejandrino and Nepomuceno were not around during the council session. The two attended the LB national elections Tuesday.
The barangay leader of Claro M. Recto also defended Nepomuceno, saying he should be the one sitting as LB president.
