Mayor Jocelyn Castañeda Former Mayor AJ Concepcion. Contributed photos
MARIVELES, Bataan — Two rival political factions on Tuesday engaged in shouting matches at the ground of the municipal hall here but no untoward incident happened.
The first group, headed by Mayor Jocelyn Castañeda, kept on shouting “Jocas” (how supporters call the mayor) and “hindi kami bayad”.
The incumbent mayor who is seeking reelection and her supporters were at the municipal building ground while the second group first trooped to the municipal hall but later stayed at a vacant lot fronting the municipal hall to avoid direct confrontation with their rivals.
Gov. Albert Garcia and brother 2nd District Rep. Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III, who are supporting the return bid of former Mariveles Mayor AJ Concepcion, led the second group.
The brothers, both on their final terms, have switched positions for this May 9 elections with Joet running unopposed. A sister, Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela “Gila” Garcia, is eyeing the congressional post in the newly-created Bataan 3rd District.
Gila is being opposed by Angel Peliglorio, brother of the incumbent Mariveles mayor.
The voices of the Garcias and Castañeda were drowned by each other as they traded accusations without giving a chance for each other to speak. Supporters of the Garcias and Concepcion were also shouting “hindi kami bayad.”
The group of the governor marched to the Mariveles municipal hall to explain that they have not committed any vote-buying scheme as charged by Castañeda.
The mayor has confiscated IDs from supporters of the Garcias that she alleged was a vote-buying scheme. “May pangakong ibibigay na P2,000 kaya ito ay senyales ng vote-buying,” Castañeda in her social media account said while showing an ID, alleged statement from an ID owner and a form “for voter’s education only.”
The governor, however, explained that the ID being issued was as membership to their Partido Balikatan and their group was undertaking voter’s education. Garcia as Partido Balikatan chairman said they have been issuing IDs with or without elections since 2012.
Concepcion, a lawyer, said they will be filing election-related cases against his rival Castañeda, also a lawyer.
“Kaso tulad ng harassment, preventing lawful campaign activities, criminal cases ng theft or robbery dahil sa force upon things at sa pagbasag nila sa salamin ng sasakyan at pagkuha ng personal na gamit sa loob nito, trespassing, administrative cases like abuse of authority at marami pang iba,” Concepcion said.
