Bantayan has new ABC chairman

Nilda Abello of barangay Guiwanon, Bantayan town is the new president of the Association of Barangay Councils of the municipality after the holding of special elections yesterday.

Abello replaced Edgardo Layese, of barangay Binaobao as ABC chairman. The special elections pushed through yesterday even with only 19 of 25 barangay captains present. Layese and five other barangay captains from Suba, Baod, Tikad, Hilotongan and Lipayran did not attend the elections.

There were suspicions that Layese's group was waiting for an intervention from the court, which they were able to obtain twice before.

The holding of the special elections came after the National Liga ng mga Barangay decided in favor of the petition of 16 barangay captains of the town against Layese for alleged manipulations of the town's Liga polls in 2003. - Ferliza C. Contratista