MABALACAT CITY -- In a show of force, thousands of supporters of re-electionist Mayor Marino Morales have attended the proclamation rally of "Team Unity" on Monday night reaffirming the firm grip of the local chief executive in the upcoming polls.
Some 5,000-strong and dedicated supporters and leaders of Morales have attended the proclamation rally at the Marina Arcade in the business district of Dau, a stronghold of Morales.
"We still want a leader with strong character and substance," said former Mabalacat Water District Chairman Diosdado Pangilinan.
Morales, of Aksyon Demokratiko and the rest of "Team Unity" have been proclaimed by Bobit Roco, son of the late Senator Raul Roco who also serves as President of Aksyon Demokratiko.
The "Team Unity" includes lawyer Geld Aquino, Jeng Yumul, Rox Pena, Rizaldo Garcia, Dwight Morales, Carlo Rivera, Jerry Basilio, Dan Bayani, Bok Tiglao and Eddie Soto – all running for city councilors. The "Team Unity" also supports the candidacy of Edgar Halili and Benny Jocson, both running for board member under Aksyon Demokratio and Kambilan, respectively.
“No one can approximate the achievements of the ‘Team Unity’ under the leadership of Morales. They brought Mabalacat City to where it is now, an economic player of the province. We have to have sustainability,” according to Pangilinan.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division in Manila has already quashed the disqualification case lodged against Morales by mayoralty aspirant Noelito Castro on October 20, 2015. In his petition, Castro sought to disqualify Morales in the upcoming elections alleging that Morales “made a false representation that he is eligible to run as mayor although the latter has already served three terms.”
In the Comelec Order docketed as SPA No. 15-045 (DC)(F) signed by Presiding Commissioner Al Parreno and Commissioners Arthur Lim and Sheriff Abas, it noted that the petition “suffers from several procedural defects such as lack of verification, failure to furnish respondent a copy of the petition and failure to comply with the efficient use of Paper Rule.” The Comelec Order was signed last January 13, 2016.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 9523, “it is required that a petition to deny due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy for any elective post be verified. It also requires the petitioner, before filing the petition, to furnish the respondent a copy of the same through personal service or registered mail.
It added that the petitioner “is also required to submit a soft copy of the petition, together with its annexes, in accordance with the Efficient Use of Paper Rule.”
The dismissal of the disqualification case against Morales, now a candidate of Aksyon Demokratiko, was widely accepted by the electorate.
Most of the Mabalacat residents still favor Morales to win the mayoralty polls so that he could sustain the current developments in the city.
Under Morales’ administration, the Mabalacat City College and the Mabalacat Community High School were also established. Other achievements include the city’s 10-year solid waste management (SWM) plan from 2015 to 2024; permanent housing projects for victims of the Mt. Pinatubo eruptions in Barangays Mawaque, Camachile and Madapdap; and vital infrastructures such as the Mabiga Interchange.
Socio-civic and business leaders in the Mabalacat City have also thrown their support to the reelection bid of Morales. (PR)