ILOILO City – Who will be elected federation president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in this city?
Three are gunning for the post – Barangay Captain Pascual Espinosa IV of San Juan, Molo district; Barangay Captain Irene Ong of President Roxas, City Proper; and Barangay Captain Efren Gimeo of Jalandoni Estate, Lapuz district.
The election will be held today at the Iloilo Grand Hotel in the City Proper at 8 a.m.
For the Liga vice presidency, only one filed a certificate of candidacy – Barangay Captain Robert Niño of Barangay Calumpang, Molo.
Three barangay captains are running for Liga auditor – Madonna Martin, Marilyn Payunan and Darme Ventura.
On the other hand, 10 barangay captains are running for seats in the Liga federation’s eight-member Board of Directors. They are Barbara Joy Aroza, Ma. Frieda Bascoguin, Alain Rey Depatillo, Mark Ryan Acap, Robert Richard Dolar, Connie Fernandez, Eva Palmejar, Karl John Lapascua, Fredo Avanceña, and Eliezar Villanueva.
According to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Iloilo City director Ferdinand Panes, Liga federation elections on July 30 are synchronized in all provinces, highly-urbanized cities and independent component cities.
For component cities and municipalities, Liga federation elections were held on July 16.
“The only participation of the City DILG is to assist in the preparation and to be a member of Board of Election Supervisors,” said Panes.
Twenty-two barangay captains may not possibly cast votes for failing to settle their P15,000 Liga membership fee, according to the Liga’s officer-in-charge Barangay Captain Robert Niño.
Iloilo City has 180 barangays.
Under the Liga’s constitution and by-laws, the fee is a requisite to be considered a member.
“Ang mga wala kabayad, they are not considered members,” said Niño./PN
