Samar employees Monday to protest non-release of 2009 P25,000 bonus by Gov. Mila Tan; Redaja no. 1 in poll survey for governor

By CHITO DELA TORRE
February 7, 2010

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  The Samar provincial alliance of employees will be staging a rally on February 8, Monday, in front of the Capitol here to protest the failure of governor Milagrosa Tee Tan to release the P25,000  yearend bonuses that were due the provincial government employees in year 2009.

Among the protesters expected to join are those working at the provincial hospital.  It was learned that during the incumbency of OIC-Gov. Jesus B. Redaja, all the employees received their bonuses, including the Christmas gift money.  Redaja, vice-governor, acted as governor during the 90-day suspension of Mila Tan which was ordered by the Sandiganbayan.

Some leaders of the Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) are bruited about to extend moral support to the rallyists, including a representative of COURAGE Party List chapter in Basey, Samar.

Polls Survey Results

In another development, Tan, who is running for representative of the Second District of Samar, placed fourth with only 25 votes (9 percent) of the total of 291 votes cast as of February 5, 2010 in a continuing survey being conducted by Samar News.

Catalino Figueroa, who lost to Tan’s daughter Sharee Ann in the 2007 congressional race, obtained 83 “votes” (29%), the highest.  Van Torrevillas of Catbalogan had 44 “votes” (15%) to his credit to place second, while Basey mayor Wilfredo Estorninos took the third place with 38 “votes” (13%).  Alvin Abejuela and Urbano Alli got only14 and 13 votes, respectively.  Of the 291 “voters” participating in the survey, 74 (25%) remained undecided.

In the gubernatorial race, Redaja far leads 5 other hopefuls with 163 “votes” (53%).  Sharee Ann, outgoing congresswoman of the 2nd District, got only one-fifth (31 “votes” or 11%) of Redaja’s total.  Casilda Lim on is on third place with 37 “votes” (13%), Pedro Labid on fourth with 20 (7%), Darwin Tan on fifth with a pitiable showing of 2 (1%) and Pilar Bolok on miserable sixth (0%).  Of the 291 “votes” polled, 37 (13%) were “undecided”.

For the vice-governor’s choice, Joseph Grey has 95 “votes” (33%), followed by Rosenaida Rosales with 72 (25%) and tail-ender Stephen James Tan with 23 (8%), also of the same number of survey participants.

In the First District, Mario Roño and Mel Senen Sarmiento tied with 56 “votes” (19%) each in the congressional poll.  Rodolfo Tuazon got 34 (12%), while Alex Tuazon and Rodrigo Tuazon had only 2 (1%) each.