Suplico-Tupas bets up in PCL polls
Gonzales
So whose hand will rock the cradle?
The answer seemingly in the influence of two top Ilonggo politicians whose bets will run against each other in tomorrow's elections of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) here.
As such, it would apparently be round two for Vice Governor Rolex Suplico and uncle, Governor Niel Tupas Sr., as 430 Iloilo councilors cast votes for the new set of PCL officers.
Though no open declarations were made, camps of the two provincial officials busied themselves in last minute preparations to ensure victories of seven officers and ten members of the PCL board.
Reported to be backed by the Vice Governor is the line-up of Januiay Councilor and PCL presidentiable Celia Colada of the Third District. While re-electionist PCL president Lilia Gonzales has since been known as a Tupas die-hard in the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
The News Today (TNT) gathered that a growing dissent on the Gonzales leadership have spread amongst the 430 Iloilo town councilors. In fact, the battle cry of Colada that has gained easy acceptance from fellow councilors was her call for transparency and proper accountability in the PCL's affairs and transactions.
To recall, Gonzales in her first years in the Capitol has been embroiled in a series of controversies with her close ties with the Governor. She stands accused in a graft case filed by the People's Graftwatch before the Office of the Ombudsman for her land transaction with the Capitol over the multi-million Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) construction deal in Pototan, Iloilo.
Further still, her three-year stint as member of the 8th Iloilo SP was not marked with any substantial SP deliberation or action. Under her stint, the PCL in Iloilo was only heard in statements that were usually against the Arroyo Administration.
"We are happy with the battlecry of Councilor Colada. And she also assured us of proper and equal distribution of projects on top of the call for transparency and accountability," Janiuay Councilor Soc Abonado, a former broadcaster said in a TNT interview yesterday.
Meanwhile, talks of a "buy-out" is hounding both camps with the amount ranging from P2,000 to P5,000.
Gonzales in her radio interview decried what she said were "vote-buying" she blamed on the camp of yet another political family, the Garins of the First District.
First District Board Richard Garin is reportedly with the Vice Governor in the bid for Colada's election and the entire Colada slate.
Tomorrow's elections will be conducted by a team from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). By early afternoon, it is expected that the clear winners will be known.
The 430 qualified –councilor voters will cast votes tomorrow morning following the formal filing of candidacies and secret balloting.
The Colada slate are as follow: Celia Colada for president, Atty. Romi Marañon of Leganes as Vice President, Atty. Suzette Alquisada of Tigbauan as Secretary-General, Cerilo Porras of Lemery as Treasurer, Gynnyn Gumban of Pavia as Auditor and Atty. Michael Margarico as Business Manager.
Candidates for the Board of Directorship are Tubungan Councilors Itik Gargaritano and Boy Villavecencio of Oton for the First District, Sherwin Sanchez of San Miguel and Jofel Soldevilla of Zarraga for the Second District, Atty. Francis Amboy of Maasin for Third District and Atty. Franklin Andrada of Carles and Francis Salcedo of Sara for the Fifth District.
Other posts such as the Public Relations Officer, another slot for the Third District and the Fourth District bets are expected to be filled in today.