BAGUIO CITY – The election of the new set of officers of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) of Baguio City was tainted with alleged controversy because of the alleged intervention of a number of city officials in the supposed free exercise of the youth to willfully select their own leaders in the next two years.
Sources, who requested anonymity for personal and security reasons, disclosed that many SK chairpersons from the city’s barangays were reportedly housed in a hotel a night prior to the elections Tuesday afternoon to ensure the victory of the anointed candidates of certain city officials for them to be able to advance their own political and business interests.
The source stated that some onion-skinned city officials will surely vehemently deny the said revelation but such practice had been just a repeat of what had been happening that shows how influential people who are in power will control the decision of the youth to willfully choose their own leaders to be able to gain headway in advancing their own political and business interests.
The source alleged that some city officials are allegedly desperate to work heaven and earth to control the majority members of the local legislative body so that they will be able to reportedly freely advance their supposed priority projects even if they are allegedly tainted with anomalies that could not be even justified by their selected technical people.
According to the sources, city residents should be vigilant on what will happen in the coming months once the concerned city officials will be able to control the majority of the members of the local legislative body so that they will be the ones to raise concern on whatever premature projects that will be railroaded by the so-called majority and exercise their freedom of speech and of expression on what they feel about said development projects.
Earlier, John Rey Mananeng of West Quirino Hill barangay emerged as the new city SKF president after being able to garner majority of the votes, edging out three others to the hotly contested post during the election that was held in a hotel along Legardo Road Tuesday afternoon.
Mananeng bested other aspirants Sherricon Bagto, Paul Sedano and Kurt Kapawen in the voting process facilitated by the Commission on Elections Baguio. Gian Franscine Lampaz of Fairview Village was elected as vice president after defeating Shireh Joshua Dumaniw and Rayah Jahziel Tayag while Gail Mae Egsaen of Guisad Central was elected secretary over Vivian Cabacungan and Ezrah Ananayo.
The other elected SKF officers were John Leo Marrero of East Quirino Hill as treasurer; Elias Pitok of Apugan-Loakan, auditor; Daztyn Atiwag of Pinsao Pilot Project, sergeant-at-arms; and Jasper Bidos of Loakan Liwanag, PRO. The new SK leaders took their oath of office after the proclamation. The ceremonial turn-over of responsibilities was also conducted with outgoing president.
The Baguio SK elections and its system appears to be rigged historically. There is an elite that exists that cunningly stays below the radar and notice of the public and meets in backrooms to plot their control over the masses of citizens. It is a “network for profit” (for lack of a better label. Instead of engaging in “public service” ; they dedicated themselves to “self-service” (to benefit none other then themselves).
Every interested taxpayer and voter should organized to hold our public officials accountable. The constitution of the Philippines assures and admonishes that public officials should be watched diligently and if they stray from their sacred duties, to be held accountable under the law. The case of targeting the youth is a travesty, it was a coordinated subterfuge to both use the youth of the city and to coax them via persuasive tactics to keep the hidden agendas and shadowy master plan (which did not include the input of the public) in a dominant mode.
These political weeds need to be pulled from the backyards of Baguio City.
signed: Homer Villarreal