PALAYAN CITY – A
relative of Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali won reelection as president of the
provincial chapter of the Philippine Councilors’ League by beating a staunch
ally of the governor’s former ally-turned-rival, Cabanatuan Mayor Julius Cesar
Vergara.
Sta. Rosa Councilor Peter Marcus
Matias obtained 196 out of a possible 331 votes to win by landslide over
veteran Cabanatuan Councilor Ariel Severino in elections held at the Nueva
Ecija Convention Center here.
The polls were conducted by the
Department of the Interior and Local Governments, led by Central Luzon
assistant regional director and Nueva Ecija director Dr. Abraham Pascua sitting
as chairman of the three-man PCL Commission on Elections. Also sitting as
members were Cabanatuan Councilor Angelito Saclolo Jr. and Sangguniang
Panlalawigan secretary, lawyer Rainier Esguerra.
As PCL provincial federation
president, Matias will sit as ex-officio member of the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan. He won a first term in 2010.
Majority of Matias’ slate swept the
available elective posts from vice president to the directors. Elected vice
president was Councilor Ferdinand Dysico of San Jose City.
The others were Talavera Councilor Amador
Allan Reyes (secretary general), Jaen Councilor Claudia Gonzales (treasurer),
Guimba Councilor Florante Agapito (auditor), Cabanatuan Councilor Christian Jan
Cecilio (pro), Sto. Domingo Councilor Edgardo de Leon (business manager) and
councilors Ofelia Manayao (Peñaranda), Ma. Kristine Regalado (Zaragoza), John
Carlo Patiag (San Isidro), Romaric Capinpin (Palayan City), Cleofe felix
(Llanera), Romulo Maglalang (Gapan City), Cesar Cajucom (Aliaga) and Benedicto
Laurena (Science City of Muñoz).
The new set of officers took their
oaths before PCL national representative Ariel Arceo. – Manny Galvez
