DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/19 December)–There’s another Duterte holding key position in the city government.
January Duterte, wife of Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, was elected Wednesday the president of the city’s Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), making her an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
She ran unopposed and replaced ABC president Edgar Ibuyan Jr, who was elected the ABC vice-president.
One hundred sixty-seven of the city’s 182 barangay captains were present during the election.
January joins the city government along with City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and her husband Paolo.
She said her priority programs include those for women and children as well as livelihood services and education advocacies for the barangays.
The new ABC board of directors are barangay captains Lilibeth Al-ag, Ernie Alterado, Pedrito Angco, Eufemia Baquiel, Artemio Jimenez, Mario Masanguid, Robert Mendoza and Alimidin Usman.
The new ABC officials took their oath before Judge Rufino Ferraris of Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 7 after the elections.
Vice Mayor Duterte earlier told reporters that he felt that January “needs more experience first before leading the ABC.”
January said there was “hesitation” on her part to take the sectoral helm as she wanted to prioritize Barangay Catalunan Grande, where she was elected barangay captain during the last barangay elections.
Sara Z. Duterte, Mayor Duterte’s daughter, served as the immediate past city chief executive with her father as the vice-mayor. (MindaNews)
