By RIC V. OBEDENCIO
The Bohol Chronicle
reported last year
The election of officers of the 3rd Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) held yesterday at Metro Centre Hotel was declared a failure.Since its existence for the last nine years, this will be the first time that TBTK scrapped the election of officers
due to infighting among its members.TBTK top guns debated lengthily on electoral rules and policies formulated by the TBTK Comelec chaired by Ted Apalisok.
The seemingly unruly affair aggravated by shouting of some members that created a stalemate between two warring parties – the group of Betty Veloso-Garcia, who is the incumbent TBTK chairperson and that of Purita Ramirez Soliven, whose staunch supporters belonging to Boholano Association of Metro Manila Inc. (BAMMI) wanted her elected as new TBTK president.
Garcia’s group was consistent in sticking to the rules espoused and formulated by the TBTK Comelec chairman stating that those who failed to register after the June 30 deadline were disqualified to cast their votes based on the adopted Articles of Commitment.
But, such rules were apparently without the sanction or ratification of the assembly.
Lawyer Milet Adame of BAMMI, cited the rules in having the election as harsh for those who may be qualified to vote and be voted upon.
Garcia questioned why others, especially BAMMI members, were not able to register before the deadline when the forms were sent earlier. She said it would be unfair for others who religiously register early and paid their dues.
But, BAMMI and those residing here countered that they should be given a fair share because they too registered themselves and paid their dues even if it was late.
Adame questioned why there has been no effort to inform them (BAMMI and other delegations) beforehand of the registration deadline. She also asked on what authority that Apalisok based his self-proclaimed election rules of which the latter failed to categorically answer.
WIN-WIN FORMULA PROPOSEDAfter more than three hours of huddle, both camps came up with a proposed win-win solution with the intercession of TBTK founder Dr. Nick Lopez and other top honchos.
Lopez, Adame and lawyer Bernie Calibo, BAMMI president, said both parties agreed for a “status quo†until next year. Part of the agreement was that Garcia will relinquish her post by March 27, 2007 and Soliven will take over as TBTK chairperson.
However, some TBTK stalwarts were skeptical on the agreement.â€
TBTK AS INCORPORATED ENTITYAnother issue raised by Lopez was the registration of TBTK as an incorporated entity with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) without the sanction of the highest authority – the Board of Administrators (BOA).
TBTK Board of Administrators include Gov.Erico Aumentado, City Mayor Dan Lim, Congressmen Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Eladio Jala, Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, Lopez, Apalisok, Tony Pueblos, Calibo, Betty Balatero, Carmelito Fernando, Liklik Schroeder, Councilor Toto Veloso, Luciano Pamaong, Honorata Stephenson, Serge Doverte, Shirley Camacho, Douglas Hontanosas, Gerard Madanguit, Leah Magno, Rene Rocha, Remegio Inting, Atty. Adame, Pureza Chatto and Ramon Lomosbog.
Garcia explained to the assembly that the registration of TBTK with SEC was prompted by fund raising activities conducted, particularly the Search for Mrs. Bohol International 2006 for the benefit of Sunshine Homes.
She stressed that TBTK could not launch the undertaking without registering with SEC as required under Philippine laws.
A bank account was likewise necessary where the funds would be deposited, which can only be possible if TBTK is a registered entity with SEC.
TBTK was also registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue for purposes of taxation.
During a press conference held at Villa Alzhun Tourist Inn last night, Soliven’s group was amenable to the “power sharing†where Garcia will end her term in March next year when Soliven would supposedly take over.
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