Judgment day for PCL
Today is judgment day for the coveted seat in the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) as 430 Iloilo town councilors cast their votes for the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Iloilo Chapter.
Up for reelection is Lilia Gonzales, a protégée of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. while expected opponent is Janiuay Councilor Celia Colada. Whoever wins in the PCL presidency will automatically get the ex-officio slot in the Iloilo SP, serving as board member of the Province.
Last minute developments have former broadcast journalist Soc Abonado as contender for the Board of Directorship representing Third District of Iloilo. Abonado will run under the Colada slate with at least five other lawyer-councilors.
The PCL elections sparked media interest with the two top bets identified with Governor Tupas and Vice Governor Rolex Suplico. Talks of "vote-buying" abound addressed to both camps.
Gonzales in the regular press conference of the Governor yesterday with Capitol reporters expressed confidence of a reelection. She must win, she said, if only to finish the hostel project of the league.
To note, battlecry of the Colada camp is for transparency and accountability of the PCL funds and corresponding league transactions. While no direct attribution was made on Gonzales, councilors seeking for a new PCL leadership decried what they similarly said was lack of proper coordination of the outgoing PCL officers.
The Colada team will see the combined forces of neophyte and reelected councilors. The Fifth District was reported to be "solid" for the former Court employee and wife of respected Judge Teodulo Colada.
Yet sources told The News Today (TNT) that the Tupas-backed Gonzales group is likewise unifying its ranks to ensure victory.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued the guideline on how to conduct today’s PCL elections set to be held at the Grand Hotel. By early afternoon, winners will be known with the proclamation following thereafter.