Triumphant. PCL winners led by Tapang whoop it up. Photo courtesy of Ric Gonzales
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Two-term Porac Councilor Michael Tapang pulled his team to victory in the Pampanga Councilors League (PCL) elections held Wednesday at the Heroes Hall here, winning 11 of the 15 positions at stake.
Tapang won the presidency of the league with 90 votes to incumbent Dein Henson’s 69. Neophyte Councilor Mary Claire Therese “Bembong” Balgan, daughter of the Macabebe mayor, finished last for the top post with 51 votes.
Tapang’s vice presidential candidate, Cesar Lagman of San Luis bested Porac Councilor Meynard Lapid, son of the former governor and senator, and Romancel Santos. Lagman had 85 votes to Lapid’s 62 and Santos’ 51.
Mediaman John Susi of Lubao – also with the Tapang Team – beat the City of San Fernando’s Angie Hizon.
Elected business manager is Mabalacat City’s Dwight Morales, son of the city mayor.
Winning treasurer Jeffrey Luriz, auditor Charina Sombillo and public relations officer Jedalyn Dalusung, and director Arthur Mangune were not in the team Tapang presented to media a week ago.
All the other elected directors, namely Rey Lapid, Ronnie Capulong, Angel David, Roan Reyes, Renato Gopez, Jocelyn Ong, and Ferdinand Velasco belong to Team Tapang.
In a post-proclamation statement, Tapang called for “unity and the renewal of friendship” among all those who ran in the PCL elections.
“This is not about Mike Tapang or his team. This is all about the councillors of Pampanga, how they can make their impact collectively in the lives of the Kapampangans,” Tapang said.
Tapang anchored his campaign for the PCL presidency on a “covenant” with his peers.
The covenant covers the holding of monthly meetings of the PCL officers at the provincial board and a regular quarterly meeting of all members; the donation of his salary as ex-officio member of the provincial board to the PCL funds; assurance of benefits to PCL members like hospitalization, death, professional and financial assistance, as well as development programs in parliamentary procedures.
Tapang also promised to put a PCL website online to ensure transparency and accountability in the activities of the league as well as accessibility for their constituents, the media and their colleagues.
Tapang reiterated his vow of stepping down from the presidency if he would not make good on the covenant he signed with his team.
“Kung ano po ang ipinangako namin gagawin po namin. Kung hindi ko po magawa ito, ako’y bababa sa pwesto at ang vice president po ang uupo bilang pangulo (Whatever we promised will do. If I fail to do this I will step down from the presidency and the vice president will take over),” Tapang said at the time he presented his team to the media.
And repeated this to media after his election.
