By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)
Laoag City—The city’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation president and ex-officio Sangguniang Panlungsod member alleged that Laoag SK federated vice president Juan Carlos Tabios III is moving to oust her from her current position.
Laoag SK president Anzhelyka Faye Lao, in a privilege speech delivered during the city council’s August 14, 2020 regular session, said she is disappointed to learn that Mr. Tabios has allegedly circulated a manifesto against her.
She added that Mr. Tabios had been allegedly meeting with other SK officials in this city one by one to sign the manifesto.
Ms. Lao disclosed that other SK officials in the city have approached her and said that Laoag councilors Roque Benjamin Ablan and Jaybee Baquiran were allegedly “pressuring and persuading” them to sign the manifesto.
She stressed that those who approached her did not mention Mr. Tabios as the one allegedly pressuring them.
She added that she considers Messrs. Ablan and Baquiran as her “brothers”.
The manifesto, she also noted, is calling for her ouster as Laoag SK federation president.
She also stressed that this should be the time for everyone to unite to face the current pandemic but she emphasized that there are those who would rather conspire against their perceived political foe.
She went on to say that instead of focusing on the present pandemic, the move against her is “unimaginably malicious in a sense where the youth whose ideals should be to selflessly serve has been corrupted and stained by dirty politics”.
“I may be young; I may be perceived as timid. But I tell of you this, please don’t mistake my meekness for weakness. For the record, my conscience is clear,” Ms. Lao stressed.
In politics, the young legislator said it is normal to be labeled according to their political colors but this shouldn’t hinder them from serving the people and that the priority is serving the people and making Laoag a better place.
Despite of these plans against her, she said still loves them and want to bless them with prayers.
“That one day, we will stop the backlashing, end the disunity and just be one in the service of our beloved Laoagueños,” she ended.
Earlier on August 9, 2020, the city’s SK federation held its regular session but Mr. Tabios did not attend.
Ms. Lao said it should have been the best time for the SK to discuss the manifesto.
The Ilocos Timestried to get the reaction of Mr. Tabios and the others Ms. Lao mentioned but failed. Mr. Baquiran however said: “I will not deny nor I will not admit”.