New Liloan officials take oath

CEBU, Philippines - The two new officials of the Municipality of Liloan formally assumed office yesterday.

Witnessed by Liloan Mayor Vincent Franco Frasco, Vice Mayor Lucelito Pilapil and Sangguniang Bayan Member Edna Cala took their oath before Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday.

Having garnered the highest number of votes as Sanggunian member, Pilapil succeeded the late vice mayor Merelito Surita, who died last month due to colon cancer.

Cala, on the other hand, was appointed to fill in the vacant slot in the SB brought about by Pilapil’s ascension.

Cala used to serve as municipal councilor from 2007 to 2010, but was not fortunate enough to clinch a spot in the Sanggunian slate in the last elections. She ranked ninth.

Frasco said he decided to appoint Cala back to the Council to have a woman legislator who can attend to programs for women, although, the committee is well-taken cared of by a male councilor at present.

“That’s a very, very wise decision. The women’s sector will be very happy,” the governor said.

Because of her experience in financial matters, the committee on finance previously held by Pilapil will be also given to Cala.

Cala, the head of the accounting department of Velez General Hospital, held the same committee during her first term in office as councilor.

Frasco remembered Surita for having supported his administration despite the fact that they ran in different parties in the previous election.

He said that Surita once told him that they will run together in the same party in next election.

Surita, who died at 57, served as barangay captain of Catarman for several years before she was elected president of the Association of Barangay Councils of Liloan and sat as ex-officio member of the municipal council.

He served as vice mayor from 2004 to 2007 during the incumbency of former mayor Maria Sevilla, the sister of Frasco's grandmother.

In 2007, the leadership in Liloan changed with the entry of Frasco and Vice Mayor Thelma Jordan.

Surita continued public service as barangay captain of Catarman.

In the 2010 elections, the opposition failed to put up a fight against Frasco’s leadership.

Surita, on the other hand, sought the vice mayoralty post and won over Jordan, Frasco's running mate. He was with the opposition but Surita supported the Frasco administration. – (FREEMAN)