Noy set to cast vote in Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines –  President Aquino said yesterday he would vote in Tarlac City tomorrow, even as Malacañang warned candidates against vote buying through various forms of assistance.

The President also cast his vote at precinct 175-A of the Central Azucarera Elementary School in San Miguel, Tarlac during the May presidential elections.

Mr. Aquino refused to say whom he would vote for since barangay elections should be “non-partisan.”

At the Palace, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte called on the people to exercise their civic duty and vote wisely.

Valte said voters should shun those who were allegedly using conditional cash transfers or other government sources to win in the coming elections.

She also urged the public to report these candidates to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections for appropriate action.

“We must not allow those who do not walk the right path to use our program,” Valte said over radio station dzRB.

She said there were many avenues to forward complaints to authorities, including social networking sites.

Valte also said voters should not belittle the coming elections because the barangay is “the basic political unit” and the nearest to the people, especially for those who would need immediate help.

“Our involvement in barangay activities is also empowerment not just to our community but also to the national government, because if we participate on this level, there are many things that we can do. So let us not disregard our right to choose our barangay leaders,” she said.

Valte also said voters should evaluate the candidates because there had been reports of corruption even at the barangay level and that those who were supposed to serve only ended up using the people’s money.

Noy’s bible bearer gunning for third term

Meanwhile, President Aquino’s bible bearer during his oath taking wants to finish his third term as barangay chairman and continue the progress he has started in his place.

Eugenio Cau Perez is running for chairman of Barangay Sinait against Felicisimo Dugue.

The said barangay, with a population of 4,000 and 1,200 registered voters, became popular after Perez was chosen to participate during the President’s oath taking.

Among Perez’s accomplishments during his two terms were the two-storey barangay hall which used to be made of nipa before he assumed office, the covered court and multi-purpose hall, several road concreting projects and the construction of a dike that protects his barangay from flooding of Tarlac river during rainy season.

He said 85 percent of his constituents depend on agricultural crops and thanks to modern technology they were able to produce good harvest, better than they expected.

His constituents believed that Perez could be a contender for the presidency of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC).

However, Perez said he has no intention of running for the ABC presidency and would rather concentrate on the welfare of his barangay and his constituents. – With Ric Sapnu