“Let us unite for progress in Dinalupihan” … Gov. Abet to political bigwigs

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia yesterday reiterated his request to political bigwigs to set aside political differences after the overwhelming majority of the residents of Dinalupihan town in northern Bataan had already chosen their new leader in the last local elections.

Garcia said he respects the Payumo clan for serving Dinalupihan for more than half a century, but the people want a new leadership despite their performance in the municipal level.

He explained the progress of Dinalupihan, the gateway to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), is the responsibility of all sectors much more of the past leaders who contributed significantly to the socio-economic upliftment of the agricultural town.

He said if the former chair and administrator of SBMA and his relatives truly appreciate the absolute decision of the voters electing Ms. Maria Angela S. Garcia, an idealistic former corporate executive as mayor, they should involve themselves in the preparation of the development plan with their technical and managerial expertise .

“Sa aking paniniwala malaki ang magagawa nila sa pagsulong ng kabuhayan ng mga taga-Dinalupihan kapag nagkaisa ang lahat at kalimutan muna ang pulitika“, Garcia added.

Former Dinalupihan mayor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Jose Alejandre Payumo filed an electoral protest against Mayor Gila Garcia before the Regional Trial Court on grounds of alleged fraud and other irregularities during the last local elections despite the 31,772 votes garnered by Garcia against the 13,453 votes of Payumo.