ABC-Negros Occ. Polls; NPC's bets sweep posts, edge each rival by a vote

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Candidates reportedly supported by the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) swept all the positions for the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) Provincial Federation of Negros Occidental, edging out their respective opponents by only one vote.

Candidates, under the United Negros Alliance (UNA) of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr, put up a good fight though and engaged the bets of Love Negros, a local party of the NPC, in a neck-and-neck race during the ABC polls held Wednesday at the Capitol.

The Love Negros bets, led by Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, each got 16 votes against their respective rivals from UNA who had 15 votes each. The results showed a pattern of straight voting, toeing party lines, by the 31 voting ABC presidents from the province's 19 towns and 12 cities, excluding Bacolod.

Former ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., a business tycoon who founded NPC to be the "political kingmaker" in Negros Occidental, was believed to have dipped his hands into the ABC polls, which according to Comelec rules, should be non-political and non-partisan.

Newly elected ABC Provincial Federation president Mark Cui, ABC president of San Carlos City, thanked Cojuangco, saying the latter was "very instrumental" to Love Negros' victory in the polls. Cui defeated Eduardo Javier of ABC-Cadiz City, and will sit as ex-officio member of the Provincial Board.

Marañon however, when asked for his reaction yesterday, said he "did not see the hands of Cojuangco" in the ABC election.

Cui also thanked two of the country's richest congressmen Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) and Julio Ledesma IV (Neg. Occ., 1 st District) for their support to Love Negros bets.

Cui's runningmates who also won were: Alexander Palanca of ABC-Victorias City, for vice president; Fernando Dolendo of ABC-Talisay City (auditor), and Francisco Jose Bilbao (Hinobaan), Virgilio Gamao (Escalante City), Jose Marcelito Garcia (Moises Padilla), Antonio Luis Gonzaga (Murcia), Ricky Rebatado (Don Salvador Benedicto), Benjamin Sian (Himamaylan City) and Soledad Leonor Suatengco (Pulupandan) as directors.

Vice Gov. Lacson told The Freeman ABC elections results will not strain his relationship with Marañon. "I don't see any reason why it will affect our working relationship," he said, adding that they were only divided during elections but united in public service.

The vice governor also clarified that Cojuangco did not involve himself in the election but only provided moral support.

Meanwhile, in the Bacolod City ABC polls, Noli Villarosa of Brgy. Tangub won without opposition for president of the ABC City Federation to sit as councilor in the City Council. Also unopposed Tanya Familiaran of Brgy. 13 and Hernani Jalando-on of Brgy. 37, who won as ABC vice president and auditor, respectively.

Elected to the Bacolod ABC board of directors were Alfredo Talimodao, Jr. of Brgy. Granada, Myrna Obligar (Brgy. 27), Jeffrey Cuachon (Brgy. 36), Jonathan Diaz (Brgy. 18), Friday Solinap (Brgy. Villamonte), Charlie Chavez (Brgy. 22), Richard Barber (Brgy. 2) and Freddie Vargas (Brgy. 4). (FREEMAN)