Erwin wins seat in Provl Board

Even in death, the political clout of the late Gov. Emilio Macias II was evident in the election of the officers of the Provincial Councilor’s League last Thursday, which saw Dumaguete City Councilor Erwin Macias winning the hotly contested presidency of the organization.{{more}}

With Erwin’s victory over fellow Councilor Antonio “TonyRems” Remollo, Erwin has also become a member of the Provincial Board of Negros Oriental.

Political loyalties and party affiliations proved the winning factor for Erwin, as influential politicians from the first to the third district helped him clinch the presidency with a margin of over 30 votes.

“We supported Erwin out of respect for his old man,” revealed a staff member of a congressman, who asked not to be named.

Sought for comment, Erwin thanked his supporters and pledged to bring the voice of the councilors in Negros Oriental to the Provincial Board.

“I also felt that my father’s support was a very big factor in my victory,” Erwin said. He revealed that before Gov. Macias died last June 13, had managed to convince some political leaders to support his son in his bid for the Provincial Board seat.

Erwin said that as a member of both the Provincial Board and the Dumaguete City Council which simultaneously holds sessions every Tuesday afternoon, he will have to divide his time shuttling between the Provincial Board and the City Council this Tuesday.

“This will be the setup only for this Tuesday. I will seek to introduce a change in the internal rules of the City Council so we could hopefully change the time of our session so it would not be held simultaneously with the session of the Provincial Board,” Erwin said.

Elected along with Erwin were Andre M. Reyes, vice-president; Ernesto T. Tijing, secretary; Dexter Villamor, treasurer; Steve Teves, auditor; Guillermo Banjao, p.r.o.; Chester Lim, business manager.

The PCL also elected an eight-man team of directors: Rizaldy Gumba, Roderick John Schon, Victoriano Alabastro, Julius Icao, Mark Fidencio Aurelia, Noel de Jesus, Wendell Sinda and Jose Bocanegra.