LP tightens grip on league presidencies

CEBU, Philippines - The Liberal Party (LP) has consolidated its hold of local government federations in Cebu, with Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante Jr. winning the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) Cebu Chapter presidency yesterday.

Diamante ran unopposed after Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia of One Cebu withdrew his candidacy and instead nominated Diamante during the election at the Casino Español in Cebu City.

Diamante’s victory came weeks after LP’s Efren Guntrano “Gun-Gun” Gica of Dumanjug town took the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines Cebu leadership and party-mate Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca of Danao City took the Philippine Councilors League presidency.

Before the election by show of hands started, Garcia addressed the gathering and expressed his interest to seek another term as league president.

He, however, said later that he does not want politics to taint the LMP, as he has already extended his support to Gov. Hilario Davide III’s administration.

Davide defeated Garcia’s brother, former congressman Pablo John Garcia, in the elections last May.

“I will not pursue my plan to run for president for the sake of unity of the mayors. We are one in our goals to achieve our camaraderie; bonding should continue in the new administration of Mayor Diamante,” Garcia said.

Present yesterday were 15 mayors of One Cebu and 19 mayors allied with LP.

“Being chosen as chairman of the LMP is beyond my expectations,” Diamante said, as he thanked Garcia for giving way.

Diamante also announced that National President Donato Marcos earlier invited him to be part of the LMP national directorate should he be elected as Cebu chapter president.

Garcia is the outgoing executive vice president of the LMP National Executive Board.

In the same exercise, the mayors gave Diamante blanket authority to choose other officers and members of LMP Cebu’s board of directors.

Diamante picked Mayors Adelino Sitoy of Cordova (vice president), Teresa Alegado of Consolacion (secretary), Mariano Martinez of San Remigio (treasurer), Antonio Canoy of San Fernando (auditor), and Augusto Corro of Daanbantayan (public relations officer).

Mayors Lionel Bacaltos of Sibonga, Ronald Alan Cesante of Dalaguete, Teresito Mariñas of Barili, Ace Stefan Binghay of Balamban, Jose Esgana of Santa Fe, Aly Arquillano of San Francisco, Bernard Sepulveda of Borbon, Marilyn Wenceslao of Santander, and Lissa Marie Streegan of Sogod were picked as board of directors members.

Diamante also created a technical working committee composed of Mayors Edsel Galeos of Argao, Nicomedes delos Santos of Alcoy, and Elanito Peña of Minglanilla.

Provincial Local Government Operations Officer Jerome Gonzales, who supervised the activity, lauded the mayors for the smooth conduct of the election.

“I see the unity, I see the camaraderie. I thank the way you (mayors) handled the league (election),” he said.

Pilar Mayor Jesus Fernandez Jr. of Pilar served as chairman while Mayors Merlou Derama of Boljoon and Dean Michael Singco of Ginatilan acted as members of the election committee.— /RHM (FREEMAN)