GMA cousin elected head of mayors’ league

A cousin of President Arroyo was voted president of the 1,496-member League of Municipalities (LMP) yesterday after running unopposed in an election held at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel in Manila.

Mayor Ramon Guico, chief executive of Binalonan, Panagasinan, officially took over the post vacated by jailed former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada.

Following the election, the LMP adopted a resolution expressing full support for the administration of Mrs. Arroyo.

In his acceptance speech, Guico vowed to pursue projects for the improvement of lives, to promote peace and order and to intensify the campaign against crime.

"The time is ripe to return to the mayors the control and supervision over local police forces in order to strengthen and sustain the fight against criminality," he said.

Joining Guico as new leaders of the LMP were Mayor Celestino Martinez III of Bogo, Cebu, league executive vice president; Mayor Marino Morales of Mabalacat, Pampanga, executive vice president for external affairs; and Mayor Melchor Nacario of Western Samar, executive vice president for internal affairs.

Others elected included Mayor Jose Salonga of Nueva Ecija, vice president for Luzon; Mayor Frankie Locsin of Iloilo, vice president for Visayas; and Mayor Suharto Mangundatu of Sultan Kudarat, vice president for Mindanao.

The new set of LMP officers will take their oath before the President at Malacañang today.