RUNNING unopposed, village chieftain Lady Gles Gonzales of Barangay Taculing was elected president of the Barangay League in Bacolod City Monday, July 30.
The election was held at the MassKara Hall of the Government Center which was supervised by the members of the Board of Election Supervisor composed of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), religious group and non-government organizations.
Of the 61 barangays, only 55 village chiefs cast their votes.
Five votes were declared null and void by the election board of canvassers.
Gonzales was unopposed with 50 votes.
Other elected Barangay League officers were Franklin Andre Familiaran of Barangay 13 as vice president with 50 votes and Jose Maria Leandro Norberto De Leon as auditor with 47 votes.
Board of Directors Rosinie Distrito of Barangay Singcang-Airport got 52 votes, Rodney Carmona of Barangay Sum-ag with 49 votes, John Mark Petierre of Barangay 30 with 48 votes, Degie Tanista of Barangay Alangilan with 48 votes, Anthony Jose Loth Alfredo Ayco of Barangay 15 with 47 votes, Rodolfo Pico of Barangay Mansilingan with 46 votes, Ricky Mijares of Barangay Banago with 46 votes, and Romel Flores of Barangay Villamonte with 45 votes.
All the candidates were unopposed and supporters of Grupo Progreso led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Joy Maredith Madayag, director of DILG-Bacolod, said the election’s result will be forwarded to the national executive board of the Barangay League in Manila.
“We have to wait for the confirmation of the election result from the national executive board of the Barangay League before they can assume their posts,” she said.
For her part, Gonzales, 33, said she will convene the new set of Barangay League officers and will elect the Barangay League secretary, treasurer, and public information officer.
She said she aims to unite all the barangay officials and to oblige them to participate in the National Government programs like the solid waste management, among others.
She added that she will wait for the directive from the DILG or the advice of her legal team if she will be allowed to assume her post on Wednesday, August 1, for the City Council’s regular session.
Before she assumed her post as the village chief of Barangay Taculing, Gonzales served as Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman when she was 16 years old and barangay council at the age of 21, which she completed the three terms.
Gonzales said that as a new president of the Barangay League, she will help and to support the administration of Leonardia for the development and improvement of the city.
Gonzales also vowed to be transparent for the members of the Barangay League.
Outgoing Barangay League president Councilor Noli Villarosa said that Gonzales has a capability to be their president and he assured her that he will support her leadership.
He said he already turned over all the documents of the Barangay League to Gonzales.
Meanwhile, Leonardia said he is happy that the new Barangay League president is supportive to the administration.
He said it was the personal and official decision of other barangay captains not to file their certificate of candidacy.
Distrito, Ayco, and De Leon had earlier announced they have an intention to run for Barangay League president but have settled for different positions.
“At least there was no more political wrangling and that is what we would like to happen in the city,” Leonardia said.
He said that if the congressman, the mayor, vice mayor and majority of the members of the City Council can work together, the barangay should also be there.
“The barangay is very essential and very critical to our plan. I believe that if we have good and strong barangays, we will also have a good and strong city similarly, if we have good and strong city, we will have a good and strong country,” Leonardia added.
The mayor noted that with the new Barangay League representative, he believes that things will run more smoothly and projects and programs can be implemented faster.