VILLAGE chieftain Lady Gles Gonzales of Barangay Taculing, Bacolod is running unopposed for Barangay League president.
Gonzales along with 10 others barangay captains filed their certificate of candidacy (COCs) Thursday, July 26, at the MassKara Hall of the Bacolod Government Center.
The election will be on Monday, July 30 at 9 a.m. at the MassKara Hall with the members of Board of Election Supervisor composed of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), religious group and non-government organizations.
Village chieftain Raymundo Salaveria of Barangay 5, chairman of the nomination committee, said other candidates were: Franklin Andre Familiaran of Barangay 13, vice president; Jose Maria Leandro Norberto De Leon, auditor; Rosinie Distrito of Barangay Singcang-Airport, Anthony Jose Loth Alfredo Ayco of Barangay 15, John Mark Petierre of Barangay 30, Rodney Carmona of Barangay Sum-ag, Ricky Mijares of Barangay Banago, Rodolfo Pico of Barangay Mansilingan, Degie Tanista of Barangay Alangilan, and Romel Flores of Barangay Villamonte for the board of directors.
All the candidates are supporters of Grupo Progreso led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Distrito, Ayco and De Leon had earlier announced they have an intention to run for Barangay League president but have settled for different positions.
Salaveria said they will screen and post the lists of candidates at the MassKara Hall for Monday.
He said the candidates should have good records and have paid the P2,000 annual Barangay League dues.
Salaveria said those who will join or vote in the elections, the village chiefs are also required to pay P1,000 registration fee.
After the election, Salaveria said the elected directors will also select the Barangay League secretary, treasurer, and public information officer.
Councilor Noli Villarosa, president of the Barangay League, said he did not seek re-election because he does not have the numbers.
For her part, Gonzales, 33, said she did not expect she will be endorsed by the Grupo Progreso.
"I'm now ready and I'm always willing to learn new things, to explore and along the way, I can adjust it with the help of the City Council and my mentors to enhance my legislative skills," she said.
She added that she's happy for the trust and confidence of Leonardia for choosing her to represent the Barangay League.
"We just talked with the members of the Grupo Progreso and I am so blessed to be the candidate for Barangay League president," Gonzales said.
Gonzales aims to unite all the barangay officials and to oblige them to participate in the National Government programs like the solid waste management, among others.
Before she assumed her post as the village chief of Barangay Taculing, Gonzales served as Sangguniang Kabataan chairman when she was 16 years old and barangay kagawad at the age of 21, which she completed the three terms.
Leonardia said it's up to the village chieftains to choose the Barangay League president because it's their activity.
"For me, all the barangay captains can be a Barangay League president. I do not want to make a comparison," he said.
In a press release, the unopposed candidacies in the League of all 11 barangay captains identified with Grupo Progreso mean that a super majority of the local officials are "sympathetic" to the Leonardia administration, said former councilor Roberto "Bobby" Rojas.
In the latest elections of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), it also resulted in a 7-0 win for those identified with Grupo Progreso.
