By Ric V. Obedencio
The Bohol ChronicleLoay councilor Brigido Imboy was reelected president of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Bohol Chapter amidst allegations of massive vote-buying during its elections Wednesday at the Bohol Tropics Resort.
The actual voting started Wednesday afternoon but lasted until early dawn the next day.
After the last ballot was counted, Imboy garnered a majority vote of 269 while his closest opponent Garcia Hernandez Kag. Tita Gallentes gathered 148 votes. City Kag. Danilo Bantugan mustered 44 votes.
Councilors claimed that two of the candidates spent as much as P3,000 for each voter.
The PCL has a total membership of 482 councilors, including Liga ng Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan presidents of 47 towns and this city.
Former Sikatuna councilor Ruben Ungab, who led the campaign staff of Imboy, said the reelection of the incumbent PCL head showed that members "approved his brand of leadership."
"We conducted a clean level of campaign. This was in contrast to the smear campaign thrown against Imboy," Ungab said.
As early as Monday morning, two days before the election, Gallentes bared on radio that she distributed P2,000 to league members to match Imboy's dole outs.
However, some councilors admitted they did not receive money from the bets.
Instead, they were given "souvenirs".
A day before elections, businessman Angelo Balili and City Mayor Dan Lim also expressed total support for Gallentes and Bantugan, respectively.
Gov. Erico Aumentado and the three Bohol congressmen, stayed "hands -off" on the PCL polls.
The governor was in Manila while the election maneuvering raged here.
The Board of Elections, headed by DILG provincial director Rustica Mascariñas, proclaimed Imboy as reelected president at around 7 a.m. Thursday.
Other PCL officers elect are Catigbian councilor Doris Obena, executive vice-president; city Kag. Leonides Borja, internal vice-president; Jagna councilor Senen Lloren, external vice-president; and councilors Maribojoc's Fructuoso Redulla, Inabanga's Rodrigo Jumamoy, and Alicia's Julita Tan, vice-presidents for 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts, respectively.
Lawyer Bienvenido Rebusora of Antequera, secretary-general; Mabini's Jesha Cuyacot, assistant secretary-general; Catigbian's Ariel Neciforo Lungay, treasurer; Tubigon's Aldrin Uy, assistant treasurer; Loboc's Pableo Sumampong, auditor; Candijay's Antonio Po, assistant auditor; and Carmen's Nathaniel Binlod, business manager.
Councilors Sebastian Baura, Raymundo Torrejos and Hendry Vidal are public relations officers for 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts, respectively.
Board of directors-elect are Panglao's Venzencio Arcamo, Calape's Teodoro Ruizol, Felix Tan, Glicerio Jubac, Emilio Garcia, Dauis' Pedro Honculada, Marianecita Soriano, Ubay''s Constancio Atuel and Danilo Cal.
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