Codilla sees victory despite INC endorsements of Lucy, Richard

CEBU, Philippines - The endorsement of the INC for the candidacies of Lucy and Richard “Goma” Gomez “is a big challenge for me and my slate, including my brothers Edward (for mayor of Ormoc City) and Elmer (for mayor of Kananga town),” said Ormoc City Mayor Elmer “Beboy” Codilla yesterday shortly before his party’s miting de avance.

“If we win, it will be a sweet victory because we did it by working hard and giving the people the kind of services they need,” said Codilla. “Our victory will be given to us by the people themselves and will not come in a silver platter, that is, via endorsements from sectors without working for it.”

Codilla, who is running against Lucy for the 4th district congressional seat, said, “We can’t choose our enemies. Our opponents have the money, but we have the strategies and the performance of public service to back us up.”

The respective miting de avance of the two parties were conducted at the same time in the city yesterday evening, and the crowds were divided in both events.

Codilla criticized the bringing in of showbiz personalities during the LP’s grand rallies, saying that it only showed they could not draw the crowds by themselves alone. “This election is not a beauty contest, so we are confident that the people will not look only on the physical aspects of candidates but on character and hard work. We are not physically handsome or beautiful but we were able to perform as true public servants,” he said.

Codilla said Lucy and her slate belongs to the elite class of the society. “They are blind with the needs of the poor people who, during non-election periods, could not even approach or go near them. It is only during elections that they start reaching out to the masses, which is not their true nature,” he said in his speech.

“After elections, they will go back to the comforts of their home in Metro Manila where their work as showbiz entertainers is located. They are actors, which are their real jobs; their hearts are not really for serving the poor here,” Codilla said, adding that these rich candidates only see the poor during elections.

On the criticisms of his work performance as a mayor, Codilla insisted that his track record says otherwise. “We don’t work by words alone. If I’m not that good, then I could not have won three consecutive terms as mayor of Ormoc City. We promised projects and we implemented these. People know and see these,” he said.

On the part of the opposition, during the 2010 elections, Codilla said “they promised to bring in investors to the city to give more employment to the people. Where are these now? None. And what they have been doing is attacking everything about my achievement, looking for faults, distorting every aspect just to give the public the wrong impression. This is utter deception just to get the votes.”

Codilla said his administration has always been democratic and filled with camaraderie between his office and the constituents. “They can always approach me at any time and anywhere for any problem, and I am always willing to listen and accommodate them,” he said.

“My heart is at the level of the poor. I treat everybody fairly, whatever their status in life,” said Codilla as he thanked the Ormocanons for supporting him then and now. He told the crowd: “Vote according to your conscience, vote for the people who you think could serve and help you best and provide with what you need.” — Contributed Article (FREEMAN)