By Villamor Visaya Jr.
SANCHEZ MIRA, Cagayan-Winning incumbent mayor and retired Army general Abraham “Abe” Bagasin, who won by a mere 17-vote margin over his opponent, rued the alleged “karadap (Ilocano word for crawl)” before and on the eve of the elections nearly cost him to lose his reelection bid.
Bagasin told in a phone interview on Thursday that he and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong have vowed a partnership to alleviate the “culture of corruption” through their personal meetings and social media groups but he was “saddened” by his slim margin of victory.
“Getting appreciation and accolades for my good governance did not translate to votes. Maybe, I am too complacent and that my record will speak,” Bagasing added.
“Nanalo ako, ayon sa opisyal na rekord ng COMELEC. But please allow me my space to grieve. Nagluluksa ako dahil hindi ko akalaing mahihirapang lumaban ang malinis na paglilingkod kung tatapatan ng malaking pera (I am grieving because I did not foresee that having a clean purpose to serve will be having a difficulty when big money comes in.),” Bagasin said in an earlier Facebook post on Tuesday.
Bagasin of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats tallied 7,132 votes, just 17-vote more than the votes garnered by former mayor Asela Sacramed of the Nacionalista Party who got 7,115 votes.
Bagasin’s runningmate, John Langaman, was way behind frontrunner Connie Marie Sacramed, daughter-in-law of Asela, for vice mayor. Sacramed got 8,124 votes while Langaman got 4,840 votes. Far third was independent Marissa Padirayon with 1,147 votes.
Five of the elected councilors under Bagasin won, who included frontrunner Carlo Cachapero, Doc Ymman Valdez, Chel Monje, Kap Mama Agabin and Val Macalma. Three others were under Sacramed’s team, who included Melbina Mangosing, Maria Luisa De Castro,and Napoleon Malto.
Bagasin said that the alleged karadap-style of the rivals are “open secret” in the town.
“Buong Sanchez Mira, hindi ide-deny na nangyari ito. At kilala ninyong lahat kung sino-sino ang mga bumili ng boto. Hinayaan ko sila, dahil nagtiwala akong hindi mabibili ang dignidad ng Sanchez Mira. (Within Sanchez Mira, they will never deny this. You know who they are. I let them do their stuff because I believe that the dignity of Sanchez Mira will never be bought.),” he added.
“While waiting to end the culture of vote-buying, we continue to pursue our clean, lawful, and efficient governance,” he said, adding that the “dignity and integrity” will speak.
“You cannot put a good man down,” he added.
The Sacrameds, however, denied any vote-buying spree in public social media posts.
The Sacrameds, led by then Mayor Napoleon Sacramed Sr. used to rule Sanchez Mira since 2000s.
In 2022, Bagasin was a neophyte in politics and was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 83. He used to head the First Scout Ranger Regiment at Southern Command, the 11th Infantry Battalion in Negros Island, the 5th Infantry Division covering Cagayan Valley and Cordillera, and the 4th Infantry Division.
When he retired from the military, he was appointed by President Duterte as deputy administrator of the National Irrigation Administration.
He then plunged into politics in 2022, beating Connie Marie Sacramed for mayor with 7,362 votes as against the latter’s 6,075 votes in the said elections.#
