ANGELES CITY – “Gawin ang tama. Itakwil ang pagbenta ng boto.”
His political battle cry now applied to an election evil, incumbent Barangay Balibago chairman Rodelio “Tony” Mamac has urged his constituents not to be “blinded” into selling their votes to “unscrupulous candidates” citing as example the P500 allegedly being given to several voters since the start of the campaign period.
While he did not name anyone, Mamac said the alleged vote-buying and -selling took place in Barangay Amsic where the Balibago voters were reportedly taken.
“Our constituents were brought to Amsic and some of them did not know they would be paid there,” Mamac said in a press interview over the weekend.
This, even as he expressed confidence that his constituents would be “wise voters, just like in the past.”
Mamac has served as Balibago chair since 2007. Reaching the three-term limit, he ran for barangay kagawad in the last barangay elections and won the top spot. With the demise of elected barangay chair former mayor and congressman Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin in 2018, Mamac reassumed the post by operation of law.
Expressing his “abhorrence of vote-buying,” Mamac said his performance as a public servant “always spelled victory for us.”
“We always resorted to good governance and efficient delivery of services. I know they will choose this,” he noted.
Under Mamac’s leadership, Balibago has been among top barangays in several fields of governance, crime prevention, child care and the handling of the Lupon Tagapamayapa.
Asked to describe his battle against former city councilor Joseph “PG” Ponce, Mamac said “all battles are difficult and we should never be complacent.”
“But this is my lightest fight compared to the previous elections,” he confidently added. Punto News Team
