AS 5 Visayan Bets Win Posts, Isabela female legislator takes NMYL presidency

Isabela Provincial Board member Cecilia Claire “Jeng” Reyes trounced Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Board Member Seth Frederick Jalosjos to win as President of the National Movement of Young Legislators in its elections during the 16th NMYL Congress held at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino the other night.

The margin of votes between the two was close, with Reyes getting 400 votes and Jalosjos getting 339.  A third contender, Pangasinan Provincial Board Member Von Mark Mendoza had 240 votes.

A total of 1,530 members of the NMYL from around the country were supposed to cast their votes but only 980 of them actually voted.

Two Visayan candidates copped the next two top positions: Reyes’ running mate, Juliene Baronda, councilor of Iloilo City, won as Executive Vice President while Bais City councilor Karen Villanueva won uncontested as Vice President for the Visayas.

Two other Visayans emerged winners: Dumanjug councilor Efren Gica got the position of Treasurer and Leyte Provincial Board member Carlo Loreto took the Secretary General post.

Villanueva, the daughter of Bais City Mayor Hector Villanueva, said there were 1,300 young legislators from Regions 6, 7, and 8 who were set to vote but some withdrew from the queue of voters due to reported exhaustion.

Villanueva said there were only seven computers serving the thousand voters. The voting started past 7 p.m. on Thursday and ended at around 1 a.m. yesterday. The winners were announced at 6 a.m.

Funds from annual fees and membership directly go to the national organization, which was founded by Sen. Francisco Pangilinan in 1989.

According to the NMYL website, the group consists of 7,000 elected young lawmakers, vice governors, vice mayors, provincial board members, city and municipal councilors, Sanguniang Kabataan Federations, and Association of Barangay Councils Federations.

NMYL members are aged 35 years and below.  — Ferliza C. Contratista/RAE