Bohol journalists join as bets in 2016 polls

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Journalists in Bohol, both in print and broadcast, have filed their certificates of candidacy for various elective positions in the 2016 elections

Based on the final list of candidates of the Comelec provincial office, a total of nine practicing mediamen are joining next year’s elections, three of them incumbent elected officials.

Incumbent City Councilor Jeremias “Jerry” Cabale Pabe, a mainstay of Tagbilaran-By-Night program over DyRD radio, is seeking reelection under the banner of the Liberal Party.

Incumbent Chairman Tito “Dodong” Toledo Libatona of Barangay Baucan Norte in Balilihan town is running for town councilor, also under the LP. He anchors the provincial government-paid radio program “Alas Singko” over DyTR.

In Baclayon town, incumbent Councilor Rosendo “Sendoy” Guingguing, currently host of Barangay Patrol program over DyTR, is running for re-election under the Nacionalista Party. He used to work with the defunct Sunday Post weekly newspaper.

Former Baclayon councilor Sofonias “Frony” Narisma, formerly with the Sunday Post and now with the Bohol Tribune newspaper, wanted to regain his old post after a failure in past polls.

Neophyte Michael “Mike” Ortega Ligalig, editor in chief of Bohol Tribune, also filed his COC for councilor of Anda town, under the LP.

Alfredo “Fred” Cellacay Amora of the LP, a veteran news reporter and now anchorman of tele-radyo based in Jagna town, is vying for councilor of his hometown, Guindulman,

In Balilihan town, Salvio Jerome Madanguit is now running to regain his old post as councilor, under the United Nationalist Alliance. He co-anchors the Sumada program over DyTR.

Political neophyte Ern Rama Pahayahay filed his COC for councilor of his town in Dauis, under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan. As a reporter of DyTR, he specialized on police beat reportage.

A DyRD mainstay of Tagbilaran-By-Night program, Anthony “Tonton” Ranoa Aniscal filed his COC for Jagna councilor, under the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

Three other mediamen are incumbent public officials but had not filed their COC for an elective post in the 2016 elections.

They are DyTR’s anchorman Edgar Tumanda who is the chairman of Barangay Minol in Mabini town; veteran journalist Lito Responte, who once served as DyTR manager and now host of Tagbilaran News Tonight, is a barangay councilman of Totolan in Dauis town; and DyRD’s police beat reporter Willy Maestrado is the councilman of Barangay Bo-ol in Tagbilaran City. (FREEMAN)