BACOLOD City – Yesterday’s election named Lady Gles Gonzales as the new Liga ng mga Barangay president in this capital city.
Gonzales, village chief of Barangay Taculing, ran unopposed together with her newly elected Liga officials – Franklin Andre Familiaran of Barangay 13 as vice president, Jose Maria Norberto De Leon of Barangay Vista Alegre as auditor, and Anthony Jose Ayco of Barangay 15, Rodney Carmona of Barangay Sum-ag, Rosinie Distrito of Barangay Singcang-Airport, Romel Flores of Barangay Villamonte, Ricky Mijares of Barangay Banago, Rodolfo Pico of Barangay Mansilingan, John Mark Petierre of Barangay 30, and Degie Tanista of Barangay Alangilan as directors.
Gonzales got 50 votes from 55 out of 61 village chiefs who were present during the election at the MassKara Hall inside the Bacolod City Government Center.
Gonzales and her Liga officials are all allied with Grupo Progreso, a local political group led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Gonzales replaced Barangay Tangub village chief Noli Villarosa.
The Liga presidency grants an ex-officio membership to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
But Gonzales has to wait first for the confirmation from the National Executive Board (NEB) of the Liga ng mga Barangay before she can attend the SP regular session this Wednesday, according to Department of Interior and Local Government city director Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag.
Madayag said she already sent the election results to the NEB yesterday.
Should the NEB fail to confirm Gonzales as the new Liga president before Wednesday, Villarosa would still be allowed to attend this week’s SP session, added Madayag.
Villarosa, who earlier said he will seek reelection, stressed that he supports Gonzales as his successor.
Gonzales said she will ensure the solidarity of all villages in the city now that she is Liga president.
“We cannot start without unity. So we have to strengthen the ties of all barangay officials,” she added.
Leonardia, for his part, said he was glad that the new Liga president is “supportive” of this administration./PN
