Mayor against putting Naga under watchlist

CEBU, Philippines - Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong yesterday expressed his opposition to a plan by the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) placing the city under the Commission on Elections watchlist for the coming May 10 elections.

“That is not a very good idea. Because it will only taint Naga's name, nga wa mi mosunod sa balaud. And besides, dili bantayanan ang Naga," said Chiong in an interview with the media.

Chiong said that if the CPPO is basing the 2001 election-related incident where a policeman on patrol was murdered, then it should have placed Naga under its watchlist in the ensuing polls, in 2004. There has been no election-related trouble after that, he said, and that he was surprised to learn that the CPPO is now considering putting Naga in its watchlist along with other areas in the province where political tensions are reportedly high.

Recently, acting provincial police chief Erson Digal said Naga is one of the localities they are eyeing to be in the election watch-list.

The reelectionist mayor explained that although there are four of them vying for the mayoralty post, it does not mean that guns and goons will be employed to ensure election. The first-term mayor is running against Esperidion Canoneo Jr. (Liberal Party), Dominador Basaya Jr. (independent) and Leandro Patalinghug (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino).

The city mayor said police records show that for the past elections after 2001, there have been no election-related violence in Naga, not in either political camp.

"You can ask (Supt. Anthony) Bagarinao that. Or Col. Henry Binas," he said, referring to the two police chiefs who have just been temporarily assigned to new stations: Binas in Naga city Police Station temporarily replacing Bagarinao who is now in Danao city Police Station.

Chiong, an Alayon-Nacionalist Party bet, said that he only hopes that the move is "not a part of their (Canoneo's) agenda. Canoneo, who is a former police officer and whose wife is the provincial financial officer, is considered Chiong's biggest rival to the post.

The incumbent mayor is however confident he will get reelected as according to him, he has all the 308 barangay officials—secretaries and treasurers included–in his side, while his rival only has five.

All 28 barangay chiefs have also pledged their loyalty to him and his vice mayor Delfin Senor and the rest of their slate, he said.

"If this is true, di mi-oppose. Only, this won't be good for Naga. Wa sad mi nanginahanglan og ibutang sa watchlist," he added.   (FREEMAN NEWS)