Election aftermath yet raging: Elected councilors take oaths separately

GARCIA-HERNANDEZ, BOHOL, Philippines — The depth of the political battle in the recent elections, among winning candidates from contending parties, has been carried over into the oathtaking ceremonies.

The winning councilors, both in this coastal town and in the landlocked town of Pilar, have their oathtaking in separate rites, manifesting the still raging political rift from among themselves, at least in the party-level.

But elected Mayor Tita Baja-Gallentes of this town and Mayor Necitas Tabaranza Cubrado of Pilar still have high hope and optimism that relations among these councilors may soon improve for the sake of their respective constituents.

In Garcia-Hernandez town, six of eight elected councilors from Gallentes' slate-Alfonso Gallentes, Concordio Jamero, Natalio Baja, Edwin Baja, Licerio Tado and Cesar Madelo took their oaths of office before party-mate Provincial Board Member Dionisio Balite in rites at the Municipal Hall after the mayor had hers.

The other two Councilors-elect Carmen Jaminal and Mario Moran, both under former Mayor Miguelito Galendez, who lost to Gallentes had their oaths before Governor Edgar Chatto of the Liberal Party.

In Pilar town, three Councilors-elect-Eugenio Datahan, Misael Hilot and Rogelio Buslon-were sworn in by Balite in rites at the Municipal Hall last June 27, after their party-mate Mayor Cubrado took her oath.

The other five winning councilors, belonging to mayoralty bet Wilfredo Bernante who lost to Cubrado by 48 votes only, took their oaths, along with Vice Mayor elect Wilso Pajo, before Gov. Chatto earlier last June 18.

Both Mayors Cubrado and Gallentes, in their respective inaugural addresses, called for unity and reconciliation, saying the past elections are over and they have to deal with the "gargantuan task of public service" before them.

Gallentes said hate has no place in her administration, so she urged everyone for "cooperation instead of division," for the benefit of the town and the people.

Cubrado, for her part, spelled out her program of government, as promised during the campaign, and to leave behind the elections then move forward instead of sowing hatred.

Chatto and Rep. Arthur Yap (3rd district, Bohol), who attended the Pilar oathtaking rites, have reminded every official of their duties and responsibilities, do away with hate and bitterness and work together.

Cubrado vowed to apply consultative process as her style of governance, by calling for a multi-sector dialogue without discrimination to help her neophyte administration and put the town in the tourism map of Bohol. (FREEMAN)