A VOTE AT SIX HUNDRED TO 1K

Admin people here tried to topple Gimangpang Chair Richard Go by way of buying voters at six hundred to one thousand pesos each. But that fell short of 36 votes, making him the first in history to get second term. This was the case, he said, that everytime election came it was always first and last term for incumbents, only this time he got elected the second time. With all their resources, they failed in their bid to oust me from office, Go said.

OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS OUT

Barangay election results were known and released by Municipal Election Officer of Initao Ms. Dina cabunoc and the following Barangay Chairmen were proclaimed shortly after the counting Monday night; ALUNA: Eve Sade, ANDALES: Leo Jamaca, APAS: Francisco Camaro, CALACAPAN: Vicente Jajalla, GIMANGPANG: Richard Go, JAMPASON:Philip Obut, KAMELON: Hadie Acain, KANITOAN: Sonia Jarlata, OGUIS: Guiles Waslo, PAGAHAN: Carlos Balabat, POBLACION: Engracio Balabat, PONTACON:Francis Ian Tupag, SAN PEDRO: Alma Acain, SINALAC:Jovenciano Saluna, TAWANTAWAN: Patricio Dala, TUBIGAN: Roger Bagares.

TRAGEDY AVOIDED

In a short talk with Gimangpang Chair Richard Go this morning in his home, the Observer knew of a bloody outcome had one false moves of Mayor Gogoy and his hosts were noticed, he said. This was when the Mayor recently singled out Gimangpang as one to concentrate of politically toppling being the one and only standing and remaining opposition in the municipality. They were already prepared of any eventuality, Go said. And that Gogoy's presence there was illegal, and added to that was the assistance to him of PNP station commander Roy Montes and his men who installed a check point in front of his pathway. This too was illegal, they were showing their partisan politics to the public,Go added.

SITUATIONER

"Barangay election is non-partisan but Gogoy's group been successful in his ill motive to control initao by making himself visible in all bgy. last election utilizing his kgwds and employees do the irregularities just to insure winnability of their candidates. This a clear violation of comelec omnibus code. What can God fearing people do to save initao of this barbaric act of gogoy's syndicate group. Capt go of gimangpang was harassed by gogoy utilizing pnp headed by montes to establish pnp check point in front of capt go res/gate. Sancho of Tawan2 was forced to withdraw para wala contra kapitan. Asa na hustisya nato initaonon. Gising mga kaigsoonan." TEXT MESSAGE SENT TO THE OBSERVER LAST NIGHT, QUOTED HERE WORD FOR WORD FROM CELL PHONE NUMBER: +639216476849

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS KNOWN

People here know and are giving information ahead from COMELEC after the few hours when voting centers were closed. This was when election results were tabulated and winners were proclaimed. Partial report, Aluna: Eve Sacay, Apas: Francisco Camaro, Jampason: Philip Obut, Kamelon: Hadie Acain, Oguis: Guiles Waslo, Pagahan: Carlos Balabat, Poblacion: Engracio Galarroza, San Pedro: Alma Acain.

SITUATIONER

In tbe field this day, people are not working and are waiting for windfall that candidates promise. They are expecting candidates to include them in their budgets and the other favors given during times like this as drinks, snacks and meats from butchered pigs, etc. In other words, these are a few days festivity there and days of recreation and enjoyment. "Palangga man mi sa mga kandidato karon", says one voter.

CHAIRMANSHIP CANDIDATES LIST OUT

Dina Cabunoc, Municipal Election officer gave Monday the Observer lists of candidates for Barangay Captain for the recent barangay elections and these are the following: ALUNA: Rodrigo Caburatan, Eve Sacay, Jolly Tacbobo. ANDALES: Leo Jamaca, Liza Leonar. APAS: Nestor Buhian, Francisco Camaro. CALACAPAN: Vicente Jajalla, Vergilio Magallanes. GIMANGPANG: Elmer Garcia, Richard Go. JAMPASON: Philip Obut. Abundio Tacbobo. KAMELON: Hadie Acain, Letecia Recolito. KANITOAN: Sonia Jarlata, Roy Mabalos, Guyde Ubagan, Jr. OGUIS: Felipe Sacay, Guiles Waslo. PAGAHAN: Carlos Balabat, Fe Minion. POBLACION: Michel Balingit, Manuel Buhian, Engracio Galarroza. PONTACON: Eddie Clapano, Ramil Dala, Francis Ian Tupag. SAN PEDRO: Alma Acain, Edwin Gabitano. SENALAC: Jovenciano Saluna. TAWANTAWAN: Patricio Dala, Ma. Lourdes Sancho. TUBIGAN: Roger Bagares.

DISQUALIFICATION NOT HERE

Candidates getting disqualification complaints can rest for a while or just stay put. Complaints like this are not addressed locally but in COMELEC Central legal department, said Dina Cabunoc yesterday in her office when asked about candidates targetted for complaints due to non-filing of election expenditures after the last barangay elections. Time constraints and expense would bar this, complainants would rather defer doing that.

CANDIDATE BACKS OUT

"Gi-anha anhaan man", said Toto Galarpe in a chance meeting in Sitio Dulag where he was campaigning as councilor for barangay Tawantawan. He was referring to Maria Lourdes Sancho, candidate for barangay captain who is recently known to have backed out of the race. Galarpe meant the mayor's henchmen were in her home several times and persuaded her to withdraw, and she did. Officially though, she may not have.

278 FILED CCs

According to Dina Cabunoc, Municipal Election Officer of Initao,to date there are 278 candidates for the 28 October barangay elections. Thirty four for barangay chairmanship and the rest are for councilorship. Two Barangay Chairmen do not have challengers namely, Senalac and Tubigan. Other barangays have either two or three contesting. For the chairmen who do not have challengers, even just one vote will do, they will be declared winners, she said. There is no percentage whatsoever to meet unlike plebiscites. And Cabunoc told the Observer that the ongoing campaign period ends Saturday evening.

SITUATIONER

On this third day of campaign period for barangay elections, candidates are very busy. Even though Sunday, yet they seem restless going house to house. They know that their time to campaign is shorter than 3 years ago. One comment here says, for incumbent officials of the barangays that are inept and non-performing, only drawing honoraria, they must no longer stay long in their positions and if they are still running this time, they should not be voted. Another comment; "makadaug pa na sila kay naa may kwarta. Ang wala, maayo pay maglusi". Money therefore is one basis of winnability.

250+ FILED

Dina Cabunoc, Initao Municipal Election Officer told the Observer Wednesday night that as of last night 252 certificates of candidacies were filed in the local COMELEC office. These filers,she said, were from the barangays other than Poblacion and Tubigan that will go to the COMELEC office for the last time this day. And they will post all names of candidates for Chairman and councilors after this day, the 17th.

SITUATIONER

A barangay councilwoman told the Observer yesterday that changes are still going on for people aspiring positions in the coming barangay elections. Some who wanted the Chair are lowering their plan to just councilmen. The reason she pointed out is the means or the money to spend for the venture. In San Pedro alone, past expenses for barangay captain amounted to over a hundred thousand at one hundred per voter, and for councilmen the least is fifty thousand. With two days remaining for the filing of certificates of candidacies, the local COMELEC Office tomorrow will be very busy.

CC FILING SCHEDULE OUT

The Local COMELEC office recently released the schedule for filing certificates of candidacies,said San Pedro Barangay Captain Mercedita Balabat. This morning in her office, Balabat said the filing is clustered, and some three others two barangays for each cluster. The following are the clusters; Sinalac-Oguis-Calacapan, Oct. 11, Kamelon-Apas-Tawantawan, Oct. 12, Andales-Jampason, Oct. 14, San Pedro-Kanitoan-Gimangpang, Oct. 15, Pontacon-Aluna-Pagahan, Oct. 16, Poblacion-Tubigan, Oct. 17.