Incumbent Mayor Lina O. Montilla and Vice Mayor Joseph George Lechonsito of the City of Tacurong won in the local polls on May 9, proclaimed by the Commission on Elections at 7:35 in the morning of May 10 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall.
According to official results released by the COMELEC, Montilla won by a landslide with 33,586 votes from 76 clustered precincts. Trailing behind are her two opponents: Jonald Lagon with only 2,924 votes and Pepe Damariñas with only 721 votes. This is Montilla’s third and last term in office.
Lechonsito claimed his second term as vice mayor with 14,266 votes.
Ten councilors who would make up the 7th Sangguniang Panlungsod were also proclaimed on the same day. Five of them are re-electionists including the consistent number 1 city councilor Psyche Sucaldito with 18,203 votes; Charito Collado who landed on the third spot with 17,254; Cirilo Flores on the fourth spot with 15,943 votes; Welson Ferrer with 13, 830 votes; and Ariel Ferdinand dela Cruz with 12,843 votes.
Five new councilors were elected to office including Lalaine Montilla who snatched the second spot with 18,000 votes; Carlos Segura on the fifth spot with 14,208 votes; Geronimo Arzagon with 13,067 votes; Renante Duque with 12,668 votes; and David Salazar with 12,325 votes.
Montilla is positive that even with diversity in political affiliation, selfless service for the people will bind the new leaders in the years to come. (Jez Billano-Fabreag, LGU-Tacurong City Information)
Tag: comelec
COMELEC held Briefing and Signing of Integrity Pledge for Local Electoral Candidates in Tacurong
“No hitting below the belt. We should only declare our platforms so that our constituents can choose according to the plans we have for them,” agreed all the local candidates for the upcoming May elections in Tacurong City during the Candidates Briefing and Signing of Integrity Pledge hosted by the COMELEC on February 23, 2016 at Angel’s Food and Palomado Speech Complex in Tacurong City.
In attendance were the local electoral candidates this coming May 9, 2016 elections including the local Liberal Party (LP), headed by Incumbent City Mayor Lina O. Montilla, as accompanied by City Vice Mayor Joseph George Lechonsito and members; local Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) party, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party, and other independent candidates.
Other stakeholders present during the briefing were PSSupt Emmanuel Peralta, OIC of SKPPD; PSupt Ranie Hachuela, Chief of Police of Tacurong City; Col. Cesar De Mesa, JTF-Talakudong Commander; and Mr. Alberto Sero, Tacurong City CILGOO among others.
Mr. Dindo Epino, City Election Officer of Tacurong City, briefed the participants on good election practices and other important provisions of the Election Code, Fair Elections Act, and other pertinent COMELEC resolutions. For instance, the candidates were briefed on the proper advertisement and election materials allowable under the election laws, the personalities or nationalities barred from participating in the campaign, and the lawful designated poster areas set by the COMELEC.
Atty. Michael Mamokid, Provincial Election Supervisor of Sultan Kudarat, provided awareness on the strict implementation of the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), and how non-compliance will be a ground for disqualification.
Articulating further on the SOCE, Mr. Samer Paporo, OIC Chief of the Assessment Section of BIR-Tacurong, briefed the candidates on the imposable withholding tax during elections, when it applies and when it is exempted. The use of correct BIR forms for SOCE purposes was also emphasized.
By the end of the program, the mayoralty and vice mayoralty candidates formally announced their commitment to a fair and honest elections. Together with the rest of the candidates present, they signed the Integrity Pledge in the presence of witnesses. (Yen Robles, Tacurong-LGU)
I Vote Good Advocacy – A First in the Region
I Matter, My vote Matters.
This was the slogan during the I Vote Good advocacy launching ceremony held on September 8, 2015 at the Tacurong Cultural and Sports Center. Almost a thousand participants joined in the launching composed of stakeholders from the Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (UBAS), Tacurong-LGU, inter-faith churches, public and private schools, local businesses, NGOs, NGAs, and barangay officials.
A first in the region, the I Vote Good advocacy aims to inculcate in the minds of the voters the values during elections by renouncing vote buying and selling, patronage politics, political dynasties, and celebrity politics in order to curb corruption and its variations so as to install candidates with proper qualifications into office.
To educate the voters, the advocacy holds orientations at the local chapels and teaches the LASER test, a grading sheet which aims to encourage voters to observe and reflect on the important characteristics of an electoral candidate. The LASER test stands for Lifestyle, Actions/Accomplishments, Supporters, Election Conduct, and Reputation.
“The I Vote Good Campaign is a different kind of LASER. It cuts through destructions of propaganda, political advertisements, gossip and popularity by focusing on the most critical issues in the candidates’ journey towards integrity”, Rev. Fr. Salvador Robles said.
Together with the participants, the launching started with a holy mass at Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria Parish, which was followed by a parade that headed to the Tacurong Cultural and Sports Center for the program proper.
The advocacy was spearheaded by Rev. Fr. Salvador Robles, DCC, parish priest of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria and Mr. Alberto Sero, City Local Government Operations Officer. Special guests were Engr. Ester P. Valdez of DILG – Region XII, Dindo L. Epino of COMELEC, Rev. Fr. Clifford Baira and Rev. Fr. Procalla, DCC of Archdiocese of Cotabato. (Yen Robles, LGU Tacurong)