ILIGAN City ― It is a standard gesture after elections to thank the citizenry for their support. More so if you have been elected because of that support. So the team who call themselves “Solid 15” did just that. But there was something peculiar about it.
Their messages were expressed not in tarpaulins, but in pieces of wood ― in plywoods. Maybe, to escape the clean-up drives of political ads, especially those of the tarp kinds as the elections were over? Whatever.
Anyway, apart from those thank you messages by the roadsides were postings on social media that henceforth, in its coming administration, they will not engage in blaming “the previous administration” for some mess that has not been addressed. They will “own” them and address them within their capacity.
And then I remembered. That is 2019, after the local elections, Mayor Celso G. Regencia was elected for the 3rd time as such, along with Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz and most of the city councilors running on their ticket, there was ferocity in the mayor's words. Because their candidate for a congressman, Col. Leony Roy Ga, lost to Frederick Siao.
“We would not have (minded) losing our posts as mayor or vice mayor, provided you have elected Col. Ga,” he said in a speech. “Was it because you have been ‘bought’ by their money? Now I’m going to prepare P30,000 for each voter!” Those were his message after the said elections.
And such words were videoed and played over and over again in the air lanes. And post on social media. Meaning that he was not thankful for the votes for most of his team.
Because Ga wasn’t elected as congressman!
To note most of the candidates under the “Solid 15” team led by Siao won. Except for three councilors And former congressman Vicente Belmonte, Jr who lost to Regencia in this election for the congressional position.
But wait, I remember too that it was really Siao who said that if he will not win as mayor he is going to have his ― ah never mind what part of his anatomy is to be cut off! Anyway too, I’d like to think that maybe this time beginning this new administration, sanity will come back here in this city!
(Email: norasorino2@gmail.com)
