MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/09 Dec.
) – He vowed to observe “critical collaboration” and take an independent stance vis-à-vis the city government. In the end, Sinanglanan barangay chair Medardo Estaniel lost his seat as Association of Barangay Councils city federation chair to Linabo barangay chair Manuel Evangelista.
Estaniel is a brother-in-law of former city vice mayor Victor Aldeguer, who ran for mayor in May this year but lost to incumbent Mayor Ignacio Zubiri.
Estaniel and Evangelista got five and 41 votes, respectively.
Malaybalay City has 46 barangays.
Evangelista said before the voting he would try to make it easy for his colleagues to have their requests approved by the city council and the city mayor. He said he will give special attention to areas that need good farm-to-market goods.
Estaniel, on the other hand, promised support for barangay chairs in case they get sick or face legal problems.
The ABC president sits as an ex-officio member of the city council.
The ABC also elected a vice president, an auditor, and an eight-member board.
Another barangay chair who challenged Zubiri in 2010 also failed in his bid as vice president of the city ABC.
Dr. Glorio Sajulga of Barangay Aglayan lost to first time barangay chair Cromwell Kiril Dinlayan of Barangay 1.
In the local election this year, Sajulga ran for vice mayor against Roland Deticio, Zubiri’s running mate, but lost.
Dinlayan, son of provincial board member Manuel Dinlayan and nephew of city councilor Lorenzo Dinlayan Jr., got 34 votes against Sajulga’s 11 votes.
Lone bet for auditor Benjamin Maputi Sr. of Barangay Imbayao got 24 votes.
Only eight barangay chairs aspired for the eight-member board.
The City Interior and Local Government Office facilitated the election. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)
