Women journalists in Region 12 win re-election

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) – Four former and current female media practitioners have been re-elected to the local legislative bodies here and other parts of Region 12 in Monday’s general elections.

Incumbent councilors Elizabeth Bagonoc of this city, Erlinda Pabi-Araquil of Koronadal City and Gina Belmes-Dael of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, and board member Ester Marin-Catorce of South Cotabato were among the winning local candidates proclaimed by the Commission on Elections in the last three days.

Bagonoc, who ran under the Liberal Party (LP)-Achiever’s with Integrity Movement coalition, was elected to her third straight term as the city’s top councilor.

A popular anchor at the Catholic Church-run radio station dxCP before joining the political arena, she finished second in the race for the 12 city council seats in the 2013 elections.

In Koronadal City, Araquil finished third among the 10 newly elected city councilors despite running as an independent.

Araquil was reporter and anchor of radio station Bombo Radyo and later of the defunct GMA Super Radyo Koronadal.

She resumed her radio career three years ago as anchor of Brigada News FM in Koronadal City.

In Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, Dael won another term as municipal councilor by landing seventh out of the eight contested seats.

Dael, who ran under the LP, publishes community newspaper Batingaw along with husband Jemuel and had worked in a local radio station.

In South Cotabato, Catorce, who ran under the Nationalist People’s CoalitionLP slate, was elected to her second straight term as the top provincial board member in the province’s second district.

Catorce anchored various programs at the Radio Mindanao Network’s station dxKR in Koronadal City and at the defunct GMA Super Radyo Koronadal before winning a seat at the Koronadal city council in 2004.