TG Guingona moves from B’non to Misor

By EDWIN IYO
Correspondent .

FORMER senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III has filed for registration as a voter of Misamis Oriental, particularly in Gingoog City where his family has established a political bailiwick.

Although the Commission on Elections registration board has yet to approve it, Guingona’s move is seen to result in a realignment of political forces either in the province’s 1st District or the whole of Misamis Oriental ahead of next year’s elections.

City hall spokesman John Ladaga said Guingona submitted his papers to transfer his registration as a voter from Bukidnon to Gingoog City on Tuesday.

Before he served as senator, Guingona was a Bukidnon congressman. His mother Ruth briefly served as Misamis Oriental governor and she subsequently became Gingoog mayor and later, vice mayor. The present mayor of the Misamis Oriental component city is the ex-senator’s sister Marie. Their father Teofisto Jr. served as vice president.

Lawyer Joel Dexter Nagtalon, Gingoog’s elections officer, said Guingona’s papers are subject for verification and approval of the election registration board.

The board, composed of the heads of education department’s schools division in Gingoog, civil registrar and the Comelec Officer, would convene on Oct. 15 and would discuss Guingona’s application for transfer.

On the same day, Nagtalon said, the board would also discuss a similar application submitted by Misamis Oriental 1st District Rep. Peter Unabia.

He said there were about four thousand applications for transfer “within and without,” and reactivation of voters’ registration in Gingoog alone.

Ladaga said the Guingonas have yet to finalize their political plans.

“Wala pa mahisgute ang kabahin niana. Ang iya lang, mapahiluna ang pag-transfer,” Ladaga said.