![“This [flood control scheme] is a corruption on a scale that we have not seen in the past,” says Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon. “The Napoles scandal is like petty change compared to this.”](https://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ombudsman_copy_resized-218x150.jpg "FLOOD CONTROL SCANDAL: Ombudsman cases filed vs DPWH staff, contractors")
ILOILO – The race for the presidency of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) in Iloilo intensifies as interim president Christy Love Custodio-Margarico of Guimbal bowed out on Tuesday, September 9, just days before over 400 councilors are set to elect their new provincial federation leader.
Margarico delivered her farewell speech during the regular session at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall, underscoring the importance of unity and service as the PCL prepares for its three-day election from September 11 to 13.
“My term as the PCL interim president is about to end, and I look forward to seeing a new leader emerge from our ranks in the next regular session, who will serve as an ex-officio member of the 15th Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” Margarico said.
The election will be supervised by the PCL national board and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Iloilo Provincial Office.
It will formally open on September 11 with registration and a welcome dinner, while the voting is scheduled for September 12, followed by the proclamation and oath-taking of winners on the same day.
The program concludes on September 13 with the awarding of certificates to newly elected officers.
Margarico, who confirmed this is her last term as a Sangguniang Bayan member in Guimbal, said her legislative focus has always been on strengthening families.
“It’s my last term as an SB member in the Municipality of Guimbal, and it is a time to reconnect with the people. My main advocacy revolves around family. I have proposed an ordinance on the code of parental responsibility because we need to restore the moral fabric of families, especially now that parenting is increasingly challenging with the convenience of information available through social media,” she stressed.
Margarico reminded her colleagues that leadership in the League demands dedication to service. “You truly need to have a heart for service, as you will be serving over 400 councilors,” she said.
As the leadership transition unfolds, political interest in the election has heightened. Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. has openly endorsed JP Peñol, a Sangguniang Bayan member from Pavia, as his candidate for the PCL-Iloilo presidency./PN
