Mediamen throw hats into politics

Several media personalities yesterday trooped to the Cebu City office of the Commission on Elections to beat the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

As of 3:40 yesterday afternoon, about 900 candidates for barangay posts in the north district have lodged their COCs. For the SK seats, more than 400 candidates have filed their COCs.

In the south district, over 1,000 candidates filed their COCs for the barangay positions, while more than 500 for the SK posts. The filing of the COCs for the October 29 elections officially closed at 12 midnight.

Some of those in the media who filed their COCs were The Freeman’s Garry Lao, Rene Borromeo and Gabby Malagar. Lao, Borromeo and Malagar are running for a council seat in barangays Tejero, Lorega-San Miguel and Mambaling respectively.

Other mediamen who are running for barangay council seats are Alan Majait (dySS) in barangay Apas and Tantan Sabalones Jr. (dyHP) in barangay Pasil.

Those running for barangay captain are Ramil Ayuman (ABS-CBN) in barangay Apas, Bernie Cabusao (dyHP) in barangay Malubog and Malou Tabar (formerly of dyAB)) in barangay Banilad.

When asked why he chose to seek a barangay post, Malagar, who is a first-timer in the field, said he wanted to effect change in his barangay, which he believes has been badly managed by the current administration. Malagar, who is running under the opposition camp of barangay captain aspirant Zaldy Vestil, has been in the media for 18 years.

For his part, Borromeo said he is not seeking for a barangay post for money. In fact, he said he earns a lot while working in The Freeman and dyLA, for which he is a senior reporter.

“Para dunay change sa barangay kay karon daghan ang binuang diha,” Borromeo said, referring to the alleged ghost employees in barangay Lorega-San Miguel, the unofficial use of its service vehicle, and the unsolved flooding brought about by the poor infrastructure system.

Being in the media does not actually mean that a candidate has the edge over the others. In Borromeo’s case, he said he is even the most low-profiled candidate in his barangay considering that it his first time to run.

He said it is just a matter of luck and that they could they earn more votes if the people would just hear his group’s platform of governance.

Meanwhile, north district elections officer Marchel Sarno conducted yesterday a briefing to all teachers who will serve in the coming elections. The same briefing will be conducted next week by his south district counterpart, Edwin Cadungog. — Liv Campo/LPM