Top officials behind 3 bets for SK city federation prexy
It's judgment day for Sangguniang Kabataaan (SK) federation president.
A three-cornered fight for the position is in the offing, each candidate backed by top officials of the city.
The aspirants: John Melchor Mabilog backed by his uncle Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog; Frances Grace Parcon backed by her father Councilor Armand Parcon; and Kesha Pesina also backed by her father Councilor Antonio Pesina and reportedly by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr.
Mabilog has openly declared his endorsement of his nephew and was even reported to have convinced Parcon's daughter to back out of the race.
Lately, talks are rife that Sec. Gonzalez would be backing the candidacy of Pesina's daughter.
Pesina is a known supporter of the Gonzalezes.
Ironically, it was reported earlier that Sec. Gonzalez asked the city officials to declare the SK election as "free zone" and let the SK candidates do their own politics.
The SK federation president sits as ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
A memorandum circular issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) prohibits any official from intervening in the SK election, however, it is public knowledge that certain officials openly support their favored bets.
The same circular also bans the SK from campaigning before the day of the election.
The election of SK federation president will be held today at the Amigo Terrace Hotel. Before the election proper, the SK will have to undergo an integrated SK Organizational Leadership and Reorientation Seminar in the morning. The seminar will provide the SK officials an appreciation of their roles as youth leaders and understanding of local governance.
The election would be done through a nomination. Each candidate will be given a chance to discuss their platforms of government.
The election will be supervised by the Board of Election Supervisors composed of DILG city director Helen Mestidio, representatives of the Commission on Elections and the Sanggunian secretary.