ORMOC CITY, Philippines – The City Council has recommended two persons to fill up the vacancy left by the late Councilor Nepomuceno Aparis, who served as city vice mayor for a combined 12 years before his death last Sept. 30.
One of the two nominees is Evangeline Cotiangco, identified with the Liberal Party headed by Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr. She is the wife of Lito Cotiangco, the OIC of the congressional office of Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez, and was reportedly the LP’s original choice.
The other nominee was John Eulalio Nepomuceno “JR†Aparis II, son of the late councilor himself, who was the choice of the minority bloc of “independents†identified with Mayor Edward Codilla.
The name of the young Aparis was included after the Council agreed to allow the late councilor’s family to also have its own nominee.
Councilors Tomas Serafica and Bennet Pongos Jr, proposed the inclusion of JR “in the spirit of fairness.†The measure, approved unanimously, will be submitted to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, who in turn makes the final choice to replace the late Councilor Aparis. (FREEMAN)