Robredo urges winning bets to do real public service

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo urged newly elected barangay leaders to perform real public service as she cast her vote for the barangay elections in Naga City yesterday.

Robredo and her daughter Tricia cast their votes at the Tabuco Central School at around 10 a.m.

The Vice President cited the importance of electing rightful village officials, saying they are the first to respond to people’s concerns.

She reminded the new set of barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to keep in mind the reason they ran for public office, which is to do real public service.

“There are many who run for public office, especially the first-timers, who have very good intentions in running, and that is to serve,” Robredo said.

“But once they are elected and experience power they forget their oath,” she added as she expressed hope that winners in yesterday’s elections would not uphold politics but true public service.

Meanwhile, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said daily monitoring of the performance of elected officials is a part of democracy.

Villegas, who cast his vote at the West Central Elementary School in Dagupan, appealed to Filipinos to have their Christian faith with them when voting.

He said part of being citizens and as children of God is to watch closely leaders whom people voted to ensure “if they really are working.”

Villegas said part of being a Filipino is to vote in barangay, local and national elections. 

“But we should guard them 365 days a year,” he said, referring to elected officials.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers called on the newly elected barangay captains and councilmen to sign a covenant to make their villages drug-free.

“The campaign against illegal drugs starts at the grassroots level and every incumbent barangay official plays a vital role in eliciting and herding citizen’s participation in the local anti-drug campaign,” he said.

The fight against illegal drugs has been undermined by some barangay and SK officials who are drug users, traffickers, protectors of drug lords or beneficiaries of the illegal drug trade.

Cash card delivery delayed

Some teachers who served in yesterday’s elections were not able to receive the cash cards containing their honoraria and transportation allowances, the Department of Education said.

Education Undersecretary Alain del Pascua said only around 87 percent of the total number of cash cards were delivered as of noon yesterday.

“Municipalities, though not all, in eight provinces still haven’t received their cards. However, there is big progress,” Pascua said.

He said some areas in Dinagat Island, La Union, Sarangani, Siquijor, Surigao del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte received the cards before 5 p.m.

Pascua said the LandBank and the Development Bank of the Philippines encountered logistical problems that resulted in the late delivery.

He gave assurance the teachers would not have to wait long for their honoraria, noting the law mandates that they should receive it within 15 days after the elections.