Newsmen win in barangay polls

A number of the media personalities emerged as winners during last Monday’s barangay elections.

The Commission on Elections’ official results showed Garry Lao of The Freeman and Banat News won a seat in the barangay Tejero council.

Ramil Ayuman of ABS-CBN and The Freeman is now Apas’ new barangay captain while Alan Majait of dySS managed to get a council seat in the barangay. 

Other winners were Malou Tabar, formerly of dyAB, for barangay captain in Banilad, Dave Tumulak of dyAB for barangay captain of Basak-Pardo, and Joseph Tubilan and Joy Tumulak, both of Superbalita, for councilman in barangay Poblacion in Barili town and barangay Lawaan II in Talisay City respectively.

An independent candidate, Lao said his win was the “sweetest victory” considering that it was done without the use of money.

Lao, who has been a youth leader in his school and in sitio Sampaguita in Tejero, said the spirit of volunteerism worked in his favor. He said at least 19 poll watchers served for him for free during the elections.

“It’s the sweetest victory kay akong pagdagan way kuwartahay, apan nidaug,” Lao said.

Lao, the only independent candidate who won in Tejero, could not say though if his being in the media for so many years was a big factor in his victory. But he stressed he was confident that he was going to win.

For his part, Ayuman believed that his being a television personality was a “big help” in his election. He said he has lesser campaign materials compared to other candidates but had managed to win.

A bigger responsibility is now being expected from him being the new barangay chief. But Ayuman said it will definitely not hinder his job in the media as it will only take “proper time management.” He was first elected as Apas councilman in 2002.

Ayuman admitted that he was initially advised by the ABS-CBN management to resign from his job. But he said based on the Comelec guidelines, there is nothing wrong for him to serve in the barangay while still being in the media.

But if in case he would be forced to resign, Ayuman admitted it would be painful for him to leave the media industry which he said is his “first love.”

In the meantime, he said he would just focus his attention on barangay Apas. – Liv G. Campo/LPM