Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Mayor Huervas eyes gubernatorial post

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon (May 18, 2024) – Last-termer Valencia City Mayor Azucena P. Huervas intends to run for the province’s highest elected office

She launched her candidacy for provincial governor in the May 2025 local elections.
The declaration took place on May 18, 2024, at the Valencia City Gymnasium and Cultural Center.
However, she clarified that she will file her certificate of candidacy as soon as no Zubiri family member runs for the office.
She’s referring to the family of former Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. whom she regarded as her political mentor.
The former governor chose her to replace the late Valencia City Vice Mayor Banjamin Verano, and she later became mayor.
If her proposal goes through, she will run against her compatriot incumbent provincial Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque.
When asked about her probable tandem, she stated that she did not consider having one due to the incumbent vice governor, Clive Quiño.
Huervas stated that she has the right to run for office and allow the people to decide.
She went on to say that even if she lost, she has no regrets.
Mayor Miguel Silva of Pangantucan, a last termer, is reportedly seeking for the same position but has yet to confirm his candidacy.
Huervas has been chosen as Bukidnon Provincial Chairperson of the PFP.
Meanwhile, fourth district board member Rodrigo Rosal also announced his candidacy for Valencia City mayor, a position to be vacated by Huervas.
Huervas, Rosal, and others took their oath as members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s political party, on the day they declared their candidacy.
When asked about his tandem, Rosal stated that they already have candidates to evaluate and that the selection process will be done sooner.
Roque, Huervas, and Rosal live in Valencia, a city with a large turnout in Bukidnon. (melbmadera and MG Mayumi B. Madera)

Comelec division disqualifies Brgy chairman bet in Bukidnon

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has disqualified a candidate for barangay chairman in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, in the upcoming village polls due to a previous conviction in an administrative case

Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said Ireneo Polinar Lapis, who is running for barangay chairman of Barangay Pualas, was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman on March 28, 2005, on the ground of dishonesty and pursuant to Section 52(a) and Section 58(a) of the Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 19, series of 1999, or the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.

Under Section 40(b) of the Local Government Code of 1991, removal from office due to an administrative case is one of the grounds for disqualification from running for any elective local position.

“[F]or being removed from public office as a result of the Ombudsman’s finding that [Lapis] is guilty in the administrative case against him, [Lapis] is disqualified from running for any elective public office,” the Comelec body’s decision stated.

Apart from Lapis, the Comelec Second Division recently disqualified a candidate for barangay chairman of Barangay Cabas-an in Aroroy, Masbate, also due to a previous conviction, and two candidates for Sangguniang Kabataan chairman. (GMA Integrated News)

5 NorMin, Lanao Sur execs among ‘top performers’ in 2022

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Five public officials in the Northern Mindanao region and Lanao del Sur province were named among the “Top Performers” in local governance during the second half of 2022 after the national and local elections.

A statement from the data analytics firm RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) on Jan. 15, said they are Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Sancho Fernando Oaminal, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto-Adiong, Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental Mayor Henry Oaminal Jr., Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia and Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal Sr.

Rep. Oaminal placed fifth among top performers in the House of Representatives with a 90 percent rating, while Adiong placed 10th with a 78 percent rating.

“Para na sa inyoha, mga pinalangga namong Misamisnons! Padayon ang atong pagpaningkamot para sa #AsensoOzamiz (This is for you, our beloved Misamisnons! We continue to strive hard for the #AsensoOzamiz development agenda),” he said in his Facebook post, reacting to the results.

Oaminal Jr. placed in the 9th spot for top-performing city mayors with 80 percent, and both Unabia and Oaminal Sr. placed sixth in the governor’s category with an 85 percent rating.

Dr. Paul Martinez, the focal person of RPMD, said these public officials who excelled in “constituent service” and service to the nation should be congratulated for their exceptional performance.

The independent and non-commissioned “Boses ng Bayan” national performance evaluation survey for the year 2022 was done from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, 2022.

Among the 65.75 million registered voters between 18 and 70, a total of 10,000 respondents were selected. The sample employed a plus-or-minus 1 percent margin of error and a degree of confidence of 95 percent.

Martinez said respondents were chosen randomly, and the number of respondents was distributed proportionally based on the number of registered voters in each area. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

Manoy Zubiri files COCs for Governor

MALAYBALAY CITY (01 Oct. 2021) – Bukidnon 3rd District Rep. Manuel Antonio “Manoy” F. Zubiri has filed his Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) as Governor of the province for the May 9 elections.

Manoy is the standard-bearer of the ruling local political party in the province, the Bukidnon Paglaum Party (BPP) that was created by his father Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr.

He submitted his COCs at the Office of the Provincial Supervisor of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Malaybalay City at around 11:15 a.m. on October 1, the first day of filing.

His tandem Manolo Fortich Mayor Clive D. Quiño also filed his COCs at around 11:24 a.m. on the same day.

Manoy Zubiri and his last termer father Gov. Zubiri are swapping positions.

Gov. Zubiri wants to get a fresh mandate as Representative of the 3rd District now held by Manoy. He filed his COCs at around 11:00 a.m. on the same day through his representative Atty. Paul Vincent Villegas.

Manoy Zubiri’s opponent 4th District Rep. Rogelio Neil P. Roque is expected to file his COCs on October 8 without tandem.

Fourth District Board Member Arlyn P. Ayon who transferred her residency in the third district, the rival of Gov. Zubiri for the position is also expected to submit her COCs on the last day of filing.

Pabillaran eyes mayoralty post

MALAYBALAY CITY (06 Oct. 2021) – It’s incumbent city Vice Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran against incumbent City Mayor Florencio “Doc Boy” T. Flores Jr. for the May 9, 2022 elections in Malaybalay.

Pabillaran filed his Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) as City Mayor at the Office of the City Elections Office morning on October 6.

He run under Bukidnon Paglaum Party (BPP), a dominant local political party now headed by 3rd District Rep. Manuel Antonio “Manoy” F. Zubiri who is running for Governor.

Pabillaran’s runningmate last termer City Councilor Rendon P. Sanggalang also filed his COCs.

Their 10 candidates for city councilors also filed their COCs on the same day.

The 10 who vied for the seat in the city councils are Rodney John C. Bides, Alain Joyce O Damasco, Lambert M. Tortola, Elpedio C. Sumanduran, Melchor P. Maramara, Al Adrian B. Antipasado, Vicar Louren G. Lofranco, Erick Dave L. Beltran, Christopher B. Soria, and Cromwell Kiril D. Dinlayan.

Of the 10 candidates for city councilors, only Soria and Dinlayan are re-electionists.

But a day before, certain Jason P. Marabe filed his COCs as vice mayor and certain Joe Carlo T. Macapala as city councilor. Both are running as Independent candidates.

As of 4:00 p.m. on October 6, Mayor Flores and his team under 4th District Rep. Rogelio Neil P. Roque as Governor have not yet filed their COCs.

Dr. Neric Acosta seeks Congress comeback

MALAYBALAY CITY (01 Oct. 2021) – Dr. Juan Romeo Nereus Olaivar Acosta, popularly known as Neric Acosta is seeking a congressional come back for the coming May 9 elections.

He was the early bird. He submitted his Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) at around 8:03 a.m. on October 1, the first day of filing as an Independent candidate.

Dr. Acosta is from a known political clan in the first district. His mother, Socorro “Coring” Acosta was a former mayor of Manolo Fortich.

He is a former member of the Philippine House of Representatives representing the first district of the province of Bukidnon from 1998 to 2007. He was the Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection and General Manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

He wanted to take back the position currently held by his sister Ma. Lourdes “Malou” O. Acosta-Alba who is in her last term.

However, it seems things did not go so easy for him.

Dr. Acosta’s rival of the post is Mr. Joeman Alba, his brother-in-law, the husband of her sister Malou.

Alba filed his COCs afternoon on October 5 in the presence of his wife Malou under the band of Bukidnon Paglaum Party (BPP) headed by 3rd District Rep. Manuel Antonio “Manoy” F. Zubiri as Governor.