Election candidates from media: 10 bets win, 10 others lose

AT LEAST 10 mediamen were successful in their bid to become barangay officials in this years elections while at least 10 others also failed in their election run.

The winners included Dennes Tabar, who was elected as the new captain of Barangay Banilad in Cebu City.

Tabar said that his victory meant that he would have dual roles now that of a public servant and a media practitioner.

Tabar, a news manager of Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN) garnered 2,932 votes and was proclained by the Barangay’s Board of Canvassers (BBOC) last Tuesday dawn as the winner in the race for the next barangay chairperson in Barangay Banilad.

His opponents were Mario Opo from Barug Team Rama and Ben Suan, an independent. Tabar ran under the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) party.

“With the dual roles I have,time management is key.Probably by morning,I will be focusing on being the barangay captain of Banilad. Then when afternoon comes, I’ll return to the newsroom,” said Tabar, who is a journalist for 25 years.

Tabar and his wife, Malou Inocando – Tabar, who is the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Cebu City government, are both media practitioners, who are serving the public sector.

“My wife was the former barangay captain of Banilad and she was really hands-on on being the village chief. And that’s when I learned what are the needs of a barangay. My years of being a media practitioner also helped me in entering the public sector because public service is also in line with our job as journalists,” he added.

According to an updated dyLA list on Facebook of mediamen who won in the elections as of 6 p.m., aside from Tabar, the other winners are Frank Benedicto / DYRF- Barangay Captain, Zapatera Cebu City; Manolito Languido/ DYRF News Director- Barangay Councilor, Tuyom, Carcar City; Gerry Auxilio/ DYSS- Barangay Councilor, Quiot, Cebu City; Francis Esparis/DYHP Drama department- Barangay Captain, Quiot Cebu City; Marvin Leyson/dySS Drama department- Barangay Councilor, Kalunasan, Cebu City; demar Yan Ochotorena/GMA Balitang Bisdak- 1st Councilor of Barangay Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte; Ramir Salonoy/ DYCM- Barangay Councilor, Kamputhaw Cebu City; Jhonley Bayking/ Brigada News FM- Barangay COuncilor of Lutac, City of Naga; and Lucio Lastima/DYHP Cebu- number 1 Brgy. Councilor of Baranggay Liburon Carcar City.

Meanwhile, Herty Lopez, 24, Superbalita reporter, who lost in his bid for councilor of Barangay Tisa, said that with his loss, he was instead looking forward to leading the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in the village.

Lopez said he would also resume his career as a journalist by the end of May.

According to the dyLA list, the mediamen who failed in their bid included Yody Sanchez / Bantay Radyo and DYRC- candidate for barangay captain in Busay, Cebu City; Gabriel Bonjoc / DYSS- candidate for barangay captain in Poblacion Talisay City; Chris Ligan / CCTN- candidate for barangay captain in Bangbang Cordova; Leslie Vestil / Manila Bulletin – candidate for councilor, Taloot Argao; Jess Campos / former GMA 7 reporter / MyTV – candidate for Councilor, Tisa Cebu City; June Berongan / former DYAB reporter- candidate for councilor in Pardo; Allan Majait / dySS- candidate for barangay captain in Apas Cebu City; Jeffrey Super Jepoy Tumulak / DYSS – candidate for councilor in Kamputhaw, Cebu City; and Papa Joe/ DYRT 99.5- candidate for Councilor, Guadalupe Cebu City.