MVF assures LC residents he still works as mayor AS HE runs for a second term, Laoag Mayor Michael V. Fariñas has assured the public that despite the massive election campaign he is conducting, his duties and obligations as the city’s chief executive have remained fulfilled and nothing has changed. Fariñas made this announcement in an exclusive interview with The Ilocos Times as a reply to queries whether he could still comply with his duties, responsibilities and obligations as the mayor as he also try to fend off the electoral challenged posed by his chief rival, former police General Rowland Albano. “As you can see, I’m doubling my effort so that I can do two things as a candidate and at the same time as a mayor of Laoag. Diak met ngarud kayat nga adda agsakripisyo aglalo daytoy obligasyon tayo a kas mayor and people might say something against me a mabay-bay-an iti kina mayor tayo. Although it must also be remembered that tiempo iti panag-politika ita and the people should also understand,” the mayor stressed. According to him, he has devised a schedule during this campaign period wherein he limits his house-to-house campaigns in the city’s barangays in the morning, attend to his functions as mayor in the afternoon, and hold campaign rallies in the evening. He added that even with this hectic schedule, he still has time to entertain visitors in his office in the afternoon; similar to what he did before the election campaign kicked off. He also mentioned that he could still officiate civil weddings. He further noted that he still is able to sign documents that need his approval so as not to delay the operations of the city government. Meanwhile, he also took the opportunity to clarify that their political camp has not engaged in “dirty tricks” as he enumerated that they have not destroyed their political opponents’ campaign paraphernalia and have not delivered speeches attacking them. “I do my campaign on a high level. I deliver my speeches on the basis of my mission and vision for Laoag City, or my platform of government, nothing more,” Fariñas noted. He also revealed that he has received reports that his campaign posters are being removed. Though he admitted that these reports are still unverified, he said he has personally noticed this. “Ta dagitoy ubbing nga agikkat, mapan da kanu isakada iti maysa a konsehal ket iyi laeng kayat kon a maamwan no sinno daytoy a para konsehal ta dagitay ubbing nga mapan agik-ikkat na-identify tayon,” Fariñas divulged. In view of this, Fariñas appealed to all candidates to respect one another and to cooperate in making this year’s elections peaceful and orderly. Dominic B. dela Cruz
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