Buenavista mayor Dave Duallo respects the aspirations of anybody who wants to run for mayor of the said town in the coming 2022 polls.

He made the comment in a radio interview on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, over Newsmakers Ug Uban Pa program hosted by the mother and son tandem of Ardy and Chandymar Araneta-Batoy.

The mayor said that it is a right of anybody to run as mayor.

“It’s everybody’s right kun gusto sila nga magpapili no. So, dili man pod maayo nga ato silang pakgangnon sa ilang mga ambisyon,” the mayor said in the interview.

The right to run for public office is enshrined in the Constitution.

“Ang ilang paglansar, ila man na nga basic right,” Duallo emphasized.

Having more candidates running for the same position is healthy for democracy, Duallo stressed.

“Tingali for democracy‘s side, maayo pud na aron ang mga tawo naa pod sila’y kanang choices kun kinsa’y maayong mudumala sa lungsod,” Duallo added.

Former National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Central Visayas regional director Modesto Membreve confirmed to The Bohol Tribune, in a telephone interview yesterday, Feb. 13, 2021, that he “is running” for town mayor of Buenavista.

“Wala ng atrasan. My decision is final [to run as mayor],” Membreve said during the said interview.

He also confirmed that his running mate is Elsa Tirol, the mother of the late Buenavista mayor Ronald Lowell “Sampol” Tirol.

The former NIA regional director said his ticket is already complete but he is keeping the details under wraps for the moment.

“Kumpleto na ang line-up. Pero, dile pa ipabulgar,” Membreve told The Bohol Tribune.

Furthermore, Membreve said he is running under the Maharlika People’s Party. It is a political party aligned with Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio.

He added that his group has not decided yet on its bet for provincial governor.

Meanwhile, Duallo delivered his State of the Town Address (SOTA) on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, which is one of the highlights of the town’s celebration of its 61st Foundation Day.

In the same radio interview, Duallo said the focus of his SOTA was the updates of the town government’s response to the impact of the Coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic.

He also talked about the state of the town’s social services, the economic sector, infrastructure, and the town administration as a whole in his SOTA.

Another highlight of the foundation day celebration was the staging of a virtual concert by a band known as Jam 403.

Moreover, Duallo said that having a concert virtually enabled the people of the town to celebrate in the comfort of their own homes while remaining compliant to health and safety protocols.