GEN. TINIO,
Nueva Ecija – For the first time in its 91-year-history, this town has no
protagonists for the mayoralty post.
This after the lone rival of
reelectionist Mayor Virgilio Bote of the Liberal Party decided to withdraw his
certificate of candidacy for the mayorship, leaving Bote’s third and last term
sealed.
Magpayo Abesamis, election officer of
the Commission on Elections in this town, said Raniel Bernardo Bautista has
withdrawn his COC as an independent candidate, making Bote unopposed.
Former councilor Arlan Esteban,
executive assistant of the mayor, said it marks the first time in this town’s
almost century-old history that an aspirant for mayor has no opponent. He said
this shows that political personalities in the town recognizes the
accomplishments of the administration of Bote who – by 2016 – will have served
out a total of 18 years as mayor, dating back to 1995 when he first became
local chief executive, a reign which was interrupted in 2004 when he no longer
ran due to the three-term limit.
Bote made a triumphant comeback in
2007, beating the incumbent who he endorsed in 2004 but who, his aides, did not
continue his programs and policies.
With Bautista’s withdrawal from the
race, Bote has joined the elite ranks of local officials running unopposed in
the 2013 polls. The others are second district Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago, Sta. Rosa Mayor Josefino Angeles of the
Nationalist People’s Coalition-Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija and Wilfredo Domingo
of Balane-United Nationalist Alliance
Esteban said as a result of Bautista’s
withdrawal, the political atmosphere in the town has become generally wholesome
and peaceful.
He
recalled that during past elections, the political atmosphere was so highly
charged and intense that it triggered divisiveness among family circles whose
members support different candidates.
“Before,
a supporter of one particular candidate for mayor would even come to the extent
of evicting from his own house his son-in-law who happened to support another
candidate. That’s how divisive past elections in Gen. Tinio were and this
latest development involving Mayor Bote running unopposed is welcome news –
like a whiff of fresh air - in our town,” he said.
He
said that Bote has also started reaching out to his past political opponents
and urged them to support his leadership for the development and progress of
Gen. Tinio, considered one of the fastest-growing municipalities in southern
Nueva Ecija. (Manny Galvez)
