Lawana, Guesey take top ABC post

CURRENT Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president Micheal Lawana will return to the city council after retaining his post during Monday election.

Lawana mustered 119 votes edging Virgilio Orca who had nine votes in the battle for the ABC top post while Jeepy Ponce garnered 117 votes to win the vice presidency as Eva Marie Fianza settled for 10 votes.

Voted as auditor is Murphy Maspil while elected as board members are Genesis Gallente, James Doligas, William Bugtong Regacho, Nick Nebrida Nialla, Van Dicang, Miguel Arnaiz, Elsie Magdalene Tindoc and Arnold Alimbuyao.

In Benguet, Barangay Captain Melchor Guesey of Catlubong, Buguias was elected ABC President and will sit as the ex-officio member of the Provincial Board of Benguet following the elections and oath taking ceremony on July 30.

The newly elected official was unopposed af-

ter the withdrawal of his opponent, Noel Bilbli of Itogon, Benguet.

Joining Guesey in Benguet’s ABC are vice president Crispin Mariano (Sablan), auditor Virgilio Acquiso (Bakun).

The Board of Directors are Billy Abdon (Tublay), Amy Belting (Kabayan), Charles Canuto (La Trinidad), Jefrey Marcelo (Kapangan), Oliver Paus (Tuba), Danny Sudad (Atok), Homer Teliaken (Kibungan), and Tony Ugalde (Mankayan).

“I am set to focus on the programs and projects left by ABC President James Guanso such as infrastructure programs, social support, incentives for Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams, and incentives of the lupon ng mga barangays,” Guesey added.

Guesey will be joining the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in the upcoming Provincial Board session.

He added the cases encountered by the barangay should be first fixed in the community level. They will also continue to aid in the promotion of the anti-drug operations together with the police and hope for all barangays to be declared drug-free.

The new set of officers have took their oath spearheaded by Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso on Monday.

“More than 50 percent of the elected ABC officials are new officers, the same with the punong barangay and the council. Given the situation, they must be educated of the new and current projects of the government that must be continued to be implemented such as the programs of antidrugs, anti-corruption, and programs of the national government,” the governor said.

Pacalso added the new set of ABC officials should also help identify the 4Ps beneficiaries to aid the Department of Social Welfare and Development.