Bastik files candidacy to regain mayoralty seat in San Joaquin
Former Mayor Sebastian Serag shows
his Certificate of Candidacy for mayor.
Former Mayor Sebastian "Bastik" Serag has now made official his bid to regain the mayorship in San Joaquin, Iloilo.
This, after he formally filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) yesterday morning while sending a message to his expected opponent, younger sister and incumbent town mayor Ninfa Serag-Garin.
"Pinalangga ko nga manghud, kon wala ka lang naghandum nga asta ang San Joaquin ilakip mo pa sa ginharian ninyo, wala pa tani natukiban dire ang kagaruk sang pagdumalahan kag pamulitika ninyo. Makahuluya ang ginhimo mo, Guimbal na ang contractor, Guimbal pa ang trabahador. Ikaw pa lang ang mayor nga damu ang ginpangremate nga duta nga may amoroso. Ang makahuluya, ikaw man lang ang naga bakal (My beloved sister. If only you did not aspire of including San Joaquin in your kingdom, then your brand of governance and politics would not have been exposed here. What you have done is shameful – Guimbal is the contractor, Guimbal is the worker. You are the only mayor who has foreclosed a lot of properties and what is embarassing is that you are also the one buys them back)," Serag in a news statement emailed to The News Today (TNT) was quoted.
Further still came the former mayor's statement stressing that his decision to run was solely a personal decision.
"I would like to stress that nobody influenced me in running against Ninfa. It was the people of San Joaquin who convinced me to run against her. They were very much disappointed with Ninfa and of her leadership and governance," the news statement continued.
Seen in a "bloody red" get-up, Serag's filing of the COC was also said to signify "his intention of running and winning" against his sister.
Other than the government projects in San Joaquin which Serag claimed favored locals of Guimbal, hometown of the Garin family, issues that were raised against his sister include purported collection of fees from drivers, sari-sari stores and local fishers.
Such, alongside complaints on the management of the barangay funds which the mayor supposedly has a hand.
"The municipal building was constructed but was not able to pass through the usual bidding process. Government supplies, heavy equipments and gasolines are all bought in Guimbal," the complaints as addressed in the news statement added.
Serag's candidacy was welcomed by Miagao Mayor and congressional aspirant Gerardo Flores.
"His candidacy is part of the alsa-masa of the San Joaquinhon against the alleged anti-people, anti-business administration of his sister Mayor Ninfa Garin," Flores said.
According to Flores, Serag's nomination as candidate of Liberal Party will come by next week. He is a part of the coalition of the people of San Joaquin in the Liberal Party.