Toss coin for DSA Liga presidency

DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao ---  After a toss coin to break the tie, the lucky one, Chairman Anwar Kedtag of  Barangay Elian, emerged as president of the Liga ng mga Barangay of this town following the conduct of election last July 16 at the GAD Building of this municipality.

        The election was participated by eight barangay chairmen, three of them contesting the Liga presidency. The two other aspirants were Barangay Chairman Datu Mando Tambungalan of Kitapok and Barangay Chairman Zaiton U. Dimaukom of Salbu.

        Tambungalan and Kedtag tied the votes, hence, the tossing of the coin as is the ruling to determine the winning contender. The new Liga president is a neophyte in politics.

The conduct of the election was peaceful and successfully exercised under the presence of 601st Brig. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the 601st Brigade.

The presence of a top ranking military official was unprecedented in the history of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, particularly in the conduct of the election of officers of the Liga ng mga Barangay here. With Brig. Gen. Carreon was Lt. Col. Alvin Iyog of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion.

Also with Municipal Mayor Bai Anida A. Dimaukom in the conduct of the Liga election were Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Anisa Abdulkarim and Municipal Election officer Estelita Orbase.

“Rest assured I will do my best to work hand-in-hand together with my co-barangay chairmen in unity towards our mission and vision to make this municipality a progressive and peaceful place to live-in, inspite the fact that we live inside the SPMS box. But still, we must do our best to live in unity, peacefully, and harmoniously. With the help also of our men in uniform, such as AFP and PNP, we in the barangay level have to strive to eliminate illegal activities in this town, such as illegal drugs, extremism, and terrorism,”Liga president Kedtag said.

        In his message, Brig. Gen. emphasized the importance of good and exemplifying leadership with a clear and definite mission and vision in his area of responsibility… “a political leader who works for the benefit and welfare of his constituents. And I am thankful that finally we have already our barangay officials who could help us in maintaining and monitoring the peace and order in this community. But, I’m also warning you --- report to your respective barangays regularly  because I have instructed my men to check your attendance daily to assure that you are working and serving your people in your area of responsibility,”

On the other hand, MLGOO Anisa Abdulkarim enticed the barangay officials to do their tasks as mandated by the national government. To the Liga president, she said: “You are responsible to monitor and to guide your barangay chairmen. Your rule is just like a father of seven siblings.. You have to entertain their problems and bring this out to our level or to our municipal mayor for immediate action.”

        Mayor Dimaukom, on her part, also congratulated the newly elected ABC/Liga president with the hope, as a new member of the Sangguniang Bayan of this town, the sectoral head could help attain “our goals to make this community a peaceful place to live in.” (ANNE ACOSTA)