PEACEFUL BUT EXPENSIVE!

MAASIN CITY - Leaders of the ruling Lakas-CMD party described it as the most peaceful, honest and orderly local election in Southern Leyte’s history. This claim was refuted however by opposition stalwart Engineer Victor Lerias who claimed massive vote-buying had once again decided the election’s outcome.

Be that as it may, according to reports relayed to the SLT editorial office, there were incidences of big time vote buying particularly by Sangunniang Bayan candidates for SK chairman.

Our sources claim the going rate in Asuncion and other barangays within the vote rich poblacion was 500 to 1000 pesos per vote. For Punong Barangay, where most incumbents ran unopposed, the price per vote plunged from the 2010 national election rate of P500 to P1000 per vote to only 50 to 200 pesos.

Was the election exercise violent? It was definitely not. For the only incident that could have turned bloody was in Barangay Lonoy where the opposing candidates for barangay captain reportedly almost engaged in a gunfight during the heat of the campaign.

Overall the disorganized opposition did much better than expected, having won the chairmanships in 4 barangays compared to only 2 in last May’s election. The barangays that voted for opposition candidates on October 25 were Mantahan, Dongon, Ibarra and Lonoy.

The only real upsets were in barangays Mantahan and Dongon where political neophytes Raffy Omega and Nelia Dajao won impressive victories. Raffy who is the godson of SLT publisher Antonio Mendoza Reyes had the full support of Mantahan’s favorite daughter Former Vice Governor Attorney Eva Tomol. Dajao’s win in Dongon was considered significant because Dongon is where Governor Damian Mercado lives.

We also asked Engineer Robert Castanares, the Liberal party Chairman in Southern Leyte, and its party’s imminent candidate for congressman in 2013 for his views on the recent election but got the usual silent treatment.

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