Aspirant's tarpaulins reduced to nothing

CEBU, Philippines - Three tarpaulins of a candidate for vice mayor in Talisay City have been destroyed beyond recognition.

Three huge tarpaulins belonging to former vice mayor Aberdovey Belleza in barangay San Isidro were found to have been slashed last Friday dawn. Belleza is running as vice mayor under the Liberal Party.

Belleza said the posters were put up side by side those of his runningmate’s, lawyer Bacaltos, LP’s mayoralty bet, but it was his (Belleza’s) posters that were slashed with a sharp object.

“Ang mensahe sa naggisigisi nga madudahan nako ang kampo ni Atty. Bacaltos ang nagbuhat, pero sayop sila. Ang kuyaw lang kung ang tagbalay nga maoy nagbutang sa tarpaulin makasakop nila,” said Belleza.

Belleza said the tarpaulins were used in his 2007 candidacy, where he ran as vice mayor under the Alayon Party but lost to Lani Abarquez of the opposition.

“Kadto nga tarpaulin hinipusan intawon to sa akong amigo three years kapin na sa pagdagan nako niadtong 2007. Unya iyang gitaod sa koral sa ilang balay pero gibinoangan pa gyud,” lamented the former vice mayor.

The entire LP camp condemned the act, and has called on their supporters to remain calm, especially that they don’t know who actually did it.

Belleza said that was not the first time that their campaign materials were abused, the past days they also noticed that some of their tarpaulins placed in different areas were also torn down.

Meanwhile, two of LP’s bets for councilor Arnie dela Torre and Danny Caballero cried foul over what they described as “harassment” of one of their supporters. Dela Torre told The FREEMAN yesterday that this supporter operates a bar/restaurant in barangay Tabunok to which the city hall has reportedly refused permit despite the fact that it was already issued a barangay clearance. (FREEMAN NEWS)