In Catbalogan City
CATBALOGAN CITY- Just 22 days before the conduct of the May 13 elections, this city has new council members taking the posts left vacant by seven councilors who were suspended earlier by the Office of Ombudsman.
On Monday (April 22), the councilors-designate- Jenny Pescos, Joseph Escober, Johen Bayabay, Cristituto Uy, Renell Francis Aquino, Eliot Lopez Jr. and Raniel Cris Macabare- took their oath of office before Judge Oledan Mabuten of the Hall of Justice, this city, and witnessed by their loved ones and supporters.
Marlon Camelon, city local operations officer, explained that the councilors-designate were appointed by their political party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) as the suspended councilors were part of the said party.
To recall, the Ombudsman slapped a six-month preventive suspension order against mayor Stephany Uy-Tan, her vice mayor Art Sherwin Gabon and seven councilors, namely, Coefredo Uy, father of the Stephany Uy-Tan; Jeffrey Uy, Maximo Pascual, Edward Uy, Christine Joy Escobar, Nanette Jasmin, and Beethoven Bermejo, to an alleged irregular land deal.
All are members of NPC except for Bermejo who is an independent. His slot has yet to be filled up.
Councilors Archie Fuentes and Kendall Luke Perez assumed as acting mayor and vice mayor respectively on Jan.3, this year.
The posts vacated by Fuentes, a Liberal Party member, and Perez, also an NPC member, have yet to be filled up, Camelon said.
“They were nominated by their party, the NPC, as the rule requires,” Camelon said, explaining the reason how the newly-assumed councilors were selected.
Pescos, the youngest among the newly-designated councilors at 21, said that while they will only assume their positions less than a month, they could still do something that will benefit the people of Catbalogan City.
“It does not matter whether we will only be serving in less than a month before the May 13 elections. What is the most important is we will serve the Catbaloganons with all our hearts and with sincerity,” she said.
For her part, she would like to introduce some program and even a piece of legislation that will help address the concerns affecting the health of the people and on youth.
Pescos is set to finish her Pharmacy course at the Samar State University, this city, next month.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA with JOEY A. GABIETA)
