Eming Codilla proclaimed as mayor of Kananga

KANANGA, Leyte-Lakas CMD standard bearer Elmer “Eming” Codilla was proclaimed winner as mayor of this town, right after the canvassing of votes at the Municipal Board of Canvassers.

Codilla routed Marciano Nahine in the mayoralty race, while his running mate Macario Lumangtad defeated Giovanni Napari. Both Napari and Nahine are incumbent municipal mayor and vice mayor respectively, and is switching their post after Napari’s term expired.

All of the candidates under the slate of Codilla likewise came out victorious they are reelectionist Ferdinand Borela and Fernan Aseo, Fedick Capanas, Amelita Mangco, Winnie Sanchez, Vincent Taganas, Marcos Clavel and Opong Recta.

The new municipal officials will take their oath of office on June 30, as mandate by RA 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

The fall of the dynasty

Former mayor Ramon Oñate and former vice mayor Eulogio "Yoly" Tupa (inset)

Mayor Marcelo "Baloy" Oñate

Mayor -elect Eulogio "Yoly" Tupa

For fifteen years at helm in the municipality of Palompon, the Oñate’s rule has finally come to an end after the May 2007 mid-term election that defeated incumbent mayor Marcelo C. Oñate. Mayoralty candidate and former vice mayor Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa routed Oñate in the mayoralty race with a margin of more than 800 votes (based on the partial unofficial result as of May 15, 2007).

It was Ramon Oñate, who defeated Atty. Dante Luz Viacrucis in 1992 elections. The kind of leadership, political will and dedication that Ramon showed to the Palomponganons has earned him a reputation of a firm leader who is determined to transform Palompon. His first term in office, has been marred with political bickering among the opposition-dominated municipal council. In 1995, he and his entire slate won overwhelmingly with Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa as his running mate. The years that followed were indeed fruitful and golden years for Palompon. Infrastructure projects such as concrete roads, farm-to-market roads, barangay electrification, were implemented as well as more responsive social services for every Palomponganons.

Palompon’s aggressive transformation was witnessed thru the leadership of Oñate and Tupa that lasted until June 2001. After Ramon Oñate and Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa’s impressive leadership and management of the municipality, a new Oñate –Tupa tandem was forged. This time between the younger brothers of Ramon and Yoly—Marcelo “Baloy” Oñate and Constantino “Tantin” Tupa.

Both Baloy and Tantin won in 2001 election by landslide victory, along with all their candidates for councilors. But political and policy differences between the two of them resulted to the split of the two allies. The younger Tupa’s support to Congressman Codilla irked his partymates, including Oñate. Sometime in 2004, Constantino Tupa was expelled as vice mayor thru a municipal resolution signed by all municipal councilors allied with Oñate.

After more than two years, another Tupa emerged and promised the Palomponganons to effect changes in the town’s policy and governance. With their slogan “Kausaban”, Tupa showed that he is determine to change the present system in the local government and it was well accepted by the people, especially those in the barangays.

Last May 14, 2007, the incumbent mayor Marcelo Oñate failed to get a fresh mandate from the votes because majority of the Palomponganon electorates voted for Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa, ending the 15-year old Oñate dynasty.

PALOMPON election

partial unofficial result as of 10:00AM

FOR CONGRESSMAN
EUFROCINO "DODONG" CODILLA 12,235 votes
CARMELO "TOTO" LOCSIN 6,849 votes



FOR MAYOR
EULOGIO "YOLY" TUPA 11, 409 votes
MARCELO "BALOY" OÑATE 10,212 votes


FOR VICE MAYOR
LLOYD SURIGAO 11,056 votes
HARVEYPIÑON 8,866 votes


BOARD MEMBERS
HERVILLE PAJARON 7,229 votes
ANTONIO JABILLES 4,072 votes

God bless the election this year

Several towns in Leyte are considered as “areas of concern” this election. A week before the election, a candidate in Kananga town was gunned down by still unknown assailant. In Palompon, there are armed goons of a politician who are reportedly intimidating voters by use of force and coercion. However, Congressman Codilla has already requested PSSupt. Antonio Vacal, chief of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) to dispatch police officers in some 4^th district towns to neutralized the situation.

Other towns, which was considered as hotspot before like Merida, Leyte is very peaceful, as per assessment this early morning of May 14, 2007. The conduct of the election in my hometown, in Palompon, is likewise peaceful and orderly.

This Election Day May 14, 2007, we pray that voters will take the time this weekend to carefully study the critical issues involved, locally and nationally, make their serious consideration of the candidates for local and national positions and vote with their conscience.

God grant that these elections will be peaceful and orderly, and that the counting of returns will be honestly and accurately reported. God bless us all

diary, MAY 14, 2007

It took two rides before reaching Palompon this early morning, May 14, 2007, because of the lack of passenger vehicle on election day. At around 7:30 AM, I was already at the bus terminal in Ormoc waiting for the L300 bound for my hometown Palompon.

I am already a permanent resident of Cogon, Ormoc City since last year, 2006, since I started working here as a government employee and at the same time a correspondent/ reporter and a part time instructor/ faculty member. But since Palompon is my hometown, it is understood that it is my perpetual domicile and I am still a registered voter there.

Since the L300 for Palompon is already overloaded and no available vehicles for the next 30 minutes, I decided to take Isabel route instead for only P 50.

Upon reaching Merida town, it was a very peaceful casting of votes, orderly I mean, unlike in the previous election in this town, when it claimed the lives of three Codilla supporters. The posters are still littering elsewhere, making most of the towns in the 4^th district the dirtiest, except for Palompon, where Lakas-Kampi candidates, headed by mayoralty candidate Yoly Tupa did not paste even a single poster on the walls (except for tarpulines in poster areas).

At around 8:35 AM I was already in poblacion Isabel, with the same unsightly and unattractive sights of posters pasted elsewhere, even in stalls and at the trunk of the tree.

I arrived at Palompon via PUJ from Isabel at around 9:45 AM, and heeded directly at Palompon South Central school. It took me only five minutes inside the polling precinct. It was an orderly conduct of casting of votes, with watchers facilitating the electorates in looking for their names in the list, and the very orderly manner of following the first-come, first –serve basis.

At the senate level, I voted for 4 independent candidates, 4 Genuine Opposition candidates while there are also 4 in Team Unity. Likewise in the council race in Palompon, I did not voted for in a single party, because I did not see the logic of straight voting. Besides, I believe that Palompon badly need a change (Kausaban).

At past 10:00 AM, my finger was already stained with indelible ink, after I have cast my votes. Now, I am back here in Ormoc, via shuttle van trip last 2:30 PM. I hope and pray that the election in Ormoc and Palompon, and the rest of 4^th district of Leyte will be credible, honest, peaceful and orderly.