TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The election for president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Bohol chapter ended in a tie between two contenders, a situation that stayed unresolved to this date.
Mayor Nino Rey Boniel of Bien-Unido town and Mayor Josephine Socorro Jumamoy of Inabanga town, were tied at 22 votes each, out of the 46 voting members during the election held at a resort in this city last Monday.
The two contenders have abstained in the election, while another member, Mayor Norman Palacio of Bilar town, failed to cast his vote that could have been the deciding number for any of the two. There are 47 towns in Bohol province.
Palacio was still vacationing abroad, and the camp of Jumamoy tried but failed to let Vice Mayor Dodong Calamba as the proxy vote for the Bilar mayor. Boniel however said a proxy vote was not provided for in the LMP constitution and by-laws.
Boniel told The Freeman that he proposed instead to resolve the deadlock by entering into a term-sharing agreement with Jumamoy, but the latter's camp wanted this settled by elevating the matter to the LMP national office.
When asked if a "toss coin" can be used to resolve the impasse, Boniel said it was not provided for in the LMP election guidelines.
The Freeman later tried to contact Jumamoy via her mobile phone for comments on the matter but got no answer.
The other elected LMP-Bohol officers were Mayors Lloyd Lopez of Loon town as executive vice-president, Junie Yu of Calape (vice president for 1st district), Allen Piezas of Clarin (VP for 2nd district), Esther Tabigue of Mabini (VP for 3rd district), Connie Amparo of Duero (secretary-general), Miriam Sumaylo of Dauis (asst. secretary), Efren Tungol of Alburquerque (treasurer), Restituto Auxtero of Talibon (auditor) and Jose Ellorimo of Sikatuna (public relations officer).
The elected directors were Mayors Ricardo Suarez of Sagbayan, Dodie Maestrado of Sierra-Bullones, Judith Cajes of Trinidad, Fortunato Abrenilla of Jagna, Mario Pahang of Antequera, Jun Toribio of Carmen, Tita Gallentes of Garcia-Hernandez and Dodong Amper of Anda. (FREEMAN)