‘Namesake’ of Councilor Paglumotan withdraws candidacy
BACOLOD CITY — Bacolod City Election Officer Atty. Ryan Castro announced yesterday that the “namesake” of incumbent City Councilor Alex Paglumotan who filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the same position filed his Affidavit of Withdrawal in the coming May 10, 2010 election.
Alex Paglomutan y Castiller who happened to be the third cousin of the incumbent Councilor Alex A. Paglumotan revealed that sometime in the month of November 2009, a certain Kagawad Sanny Barcenal of Brgy. Felisa approached him and proposed if he could run as Councilor of Bacolod City.
He also said that he asked Kagawad Barcenal the reason why he wanted him to run as Councilor of Bacolod City, and the latter explained that he wanted to help Congressman Monico Puentevella.
He stressed that when he agreed to the proposal, he was instructed to secure the form and fill up the Certificate of Candidacy for the position of Councilor and have his COC notarized.
“After I filed my Certificate of Candidacy, I found out that various media outlets wanted to interview me and wanted to know the reason why I filed my Certificate of Candidacy because I have the same first name and surname as that of Councilor Alex Paglumotan,” Paglomutan said.
He also recalled that after he filed his COC, many people at Barangay Felisa and those who knew him started to question his intention and some people of Brgy. Felisa explained the repercussion of what he did.
His affidavit also narrates that in truth, he had no real intention of running as Councilor of Bacolod City, but because of the prodding of Kagawad Barcenal, he filed his certificate of candidacy.
Paglomutan also said that after discussion with his family, compounded by his conscience which bothers him, he realized that what he did is not correct.
“The Incumbent Councilor is my relative and have not done anything wrong to deserve such kind of ruinous action from me,” he added.
Paglomutan also emphasized that he was not paid by anyone in executing his affidavit of withdrawal but it is because of the conscience that bothers him. “I wanted Commission on Election in Bacolod City and its Central Office in Manila, to know and accept my affidavit of withdrawal as candidate for councilor of Bacolod City since I have no legitimate purpose in filing my Certificate of Candidacy,” Paglomutan narrates. \
On the other hand, Atty. Castro said that since there is a withdrawal from the other Paglomutan, he will endorse this affidavit of withdrawal to the Legal Department for appropriate action. Castro said that anybody could withdraw his candidacy before May 2010 election so that their name could be deleted from the list of candidates as what Alex Paglomutan y Castiller did.
