Daet mayor removed from CamNorte LP
LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Tito Sarion, municipal mayor of Daet, was removed from Liberal Party’s Camarines Norte chapter by a unanimous decision reached by local party leaders in a meeting called by its provincial chairman, Governor Edgar “Egay” Tallado.
Tallado confirmed on Thursday that Sarion was removed from LP Camarines Norte due to “disloyalty” to the party.
The decision was agreed upon by LP member in the province, which included Vice Governor Jonah Pimentel, the provincial board members and five of the province’s twelve town mayors.
Tallado, in a phone interview, said the decision to call for Sarion’s removal from LP was triggered by various acts of “disloyalty,” including expressing support to his political opponents in past gubernatorial races in Camarines Norte despite belonging to his ticket.
He also admitted that he has personal grievances against Sarion.
He said Sarion permitted a group to demonstrate against him in Daet last year after the photo and video scandal of him and his alleged mistress surfaced and went viral on social media. The group called for his resignation on grounds of immoral acts.
Sarion, in a separate interview, is also calling on LP national leaders to remove Tallado from LP on ground of “immorality.”
Sarion said he is also calling on Tallado to leave his post as governor of the province for the latter’s alleged involvement in various illegal mining issues and for other alleged corrupt practices.
“I hope he would be sensible enough to give up his post knowing that many of his constituents were dismayed and angry at him for his immoral acts. He is a bad influence to our youth. His acts were shameful and embarrassing to Camarines Norte. If you go online and search for Camarines Norte or his name, the browsers will automatically suggest ‘scandal’ on the top searches,” he said.
He added he knew of Tallado’s displeasure against him for permitting the rally in Daet, which was attended by representatives from various sectors in Camarines Norte.
He accused Tallado of political mudslinging aimed at damaging his reputation.
Sarion said Tallado went on air with several interviews in local radio stations allegedly accusing him of incompetence for being unable to solve problems in Daet, including heavy traffic, unchecked presence of ambulant vendors, and the lack of ambulance and police mobile cars.
Tallado admitted he gave a radio interview to say that Sarion has to thank the provincial government for fulfilling 60 percent of the criteria that made Daet the “Most Competitive Municipality in the Philippines,” a recognition given by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).
He said 60 percent of the criteria was devoted to the infrastructural aspect of the town, which, the governor claimed, was the result of the efforts of his administration, such as giving the capital town its wide main roads and bridges, covered courts and other government buildings.
Among the infrastructures he mentioned was the President Cory Aquino Boulevard along Daet’s Bagasbas Beach. The boulevard is still being extended to serve as an access road to various tourism destinations in the province of Camarines Norte.
Sarion, meanwhile, revealed he is launching a movement called “Sagip Camarines Norte” to denounce immorality, illegal mining and call for good governance. The movement is directly aimed at the governor, he admitted.
Despite these developments, Sarion said he has no concrete plans to run for governor against Tallado, who will be seeking reelection in 2016.
Tallado has affirmed he will be running for the gubernatorial race again in May next year. TVJ
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