Only 4 of 14 Will Remain As SPA Member After 2013 Polls

by ODON S. BANDIOLA

As the deadline for the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy (COC) lapsed on October 5, 2012, only four (4) out of the 14 incumbent local legislators who composed the present Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan (SPA) are running for reelection to the said positions.

Opting to remain at the Aklan SP by running for reelection are incumbent Vice Governor and presiding officer, Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo, two-termers SP members Jean O. Rodriguez and Rodson F. Mayor, both of the East district, and Senior SPA member first termer Jose Enrique M. Miraflores, West district.

Three-termer SPA members Selwyn C. Ibarreta and Gerick M. Templonuevo, both of the Western district, will be graduating in 2013. None of the two is running for another elective position.

First termer SPA member Victor Manuel M. Garcia of the West District has decided to run for Vice Governor of Aklan. He will oppose the reelectionist Vice Governor Calizo-Quimpo, an NP who coalesced with the Tibyog Aklan, a local party in tandem with Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores who is a candidate for governor (LP).

Another first-termer SPA member Phoebe Clarice L. Cabagnot plunges her political carrer into another horizon by running for Congressman of the Lone District of Aklan. She turns the Aklan congressional derby into a 3-cornered fight. She will run independent opposing Representative Teodorico T. Haresco, Jr. and Banga Mayor Antonio Maming. Haresco, an independent is identified with Tibyog Aklan, Atty. Allen S. Quimpo’s and Cong. Florencio T. Miraflores’ local party. Maming is with the United Nationalist Alliance.

Three termer SPA member Daisy S. Briones of the East district will be graduating. She has filed her COC for Sangguniang Bayan member of Kalibo as part of Kalibo Mayor William S. Lachica’s political line-up who is running for reelection against former Aklan Congressman Allen S. Quimpo.

First termer SPA member Raymar A. Rebaldo, also of the East district, does not run for reelection. He has tandemed with former Congressman Quimpo as Kalibo Vice Mayor.

Two termer SPA member Nemesio P. Neron, also of the East district is not working for reelection. Instead, he will run for Mayor of Banga against the wife of Mayor Antonio Maming who is running for Congressman.

Sectoral representatives to the SP, namely: Johna I. Morales-Torres, Banga SB member; the President of the Philippine Councilor’s League; Bob Augusto F. Legaspi of the Sangguniang Kabataan; and Edina T. Gelito, of the Liga ng mga Barangay, are expected to relinguish their respective posts in the SPA as soon as their successors had been duly elected and qualified. /MP