S. Upi folks bid Campong’s comeback

VICE MAYOR ABDULLAH “BEDZ” CAMPONG

SOUTH UPI, Maguindanao --- As the local election campaign period reels off, incumbent Vice Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong of South Upi, Maguindanao is back on the saddle seeking a comeback to the town’s mayoralty post, facing on three other hopefuls, including the incumbent town mayor.

This amid family resolve  for him to back off politics and retire to private life after he completes his one term as municipal vice mayor but still consistently pressed by support groups to sail on that he filed his mayoralty candidacy in October last year.

Now the time has come, after reflection and a waiting period, to meet the renewed challenge of public service which he cannot refuse his people. “I cannot succumb yet to retirement from politics or public service because of the call by many segments of my dear town... I cannot just dump their confidence and trust on me.”

An undefeated municipal mayor for three consecutive terms before holding the vice mayoralty post, Campong is standard bearer of the administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP). 

In an exclusive interview, Vice Mayor Campong revealed that his family wanted him to step down from politics and live a private life due to his health condition and after having already shared his energies in shaping the development of his town.

But pressures from the populace --- among them the elders, tri-people, religious sector, and other organizations --- begged for his stay in political career and continue his vision-mission for the municipality.

“I pray that my family understands my decision to further stay in the political arena in service of the community should I still get the endorsement of the public and may my family circle continue to support my career at this point in time,” he said of his decision to go with the political contest after he filed the mayoral candidacy that filing period last year.

Among the development initiatives as a public servant during his political stint as mayor were the construction and fencing of the Municipal Hall building as his legacy, the construction of farm-to-market roads which helped improve the community’s economy and mobility, the push for a sustainable peace and order condition, and other implemented development programs/projects and prospects.

Folks say that a lot of changes have come during his mayoralty years which made the town gradually progress and attained a peaceful environment as he led the crusade towards unity and solidarity among people.

In the backdrop of insinuations, he uttered these words: “I have been through politics and I really want to focus and devote my time in farming since it is our source of living.”

But persistent call for the continuity of his political service made him change his mind and after soul searching finally decided to run again as municipal mayor against the incumbent mayor, Raynalbert Insular, and two other aspirants.

Because of the  consistency, perseverance, and convincing power of support groups, the development- oriented organizations such as the Kuyog Sumpat Mamalo, “I am humbled not to dishearten the call for public service… hence, the comeback bid for the mayoralty post.”

Campong cited the main reasons and objectives why he was convinced by the groups of people, one is  to retrieve South Upi’s leadership to original settlers --- the Teduray and Lambangian tribes and to further build up the unity and harmony among tri-people living in the locality with no discrimination and regardless of races, because “we are a peace loving people.”.

Once elected again as municipal mayor in the coming midterm polls, Campong pointed another action priority --- to fast tract the surveying and titling of all public lands in the municipality.

He said almost all of the land owners here who own parcels of land they cultivate have no titles to prove their ownership.  “And this would escalate into a big problem if the local government does nothing to solve the dilemma.  Actually, my plan is for the local government to shoulder the expenses needed for the surveying process until the titles have been awarded to individual beneficiaries for free… and this could be done per barangay.”

        Another, he said, is mobilizing and activating the Barangay Tanod in all 11 barangays, composed of five each, to secure and monitor peace and order.

Further, he said the Barangay Tanod will be required to report to the local chief executive about the peace and order situation of their respective barangays once a month and seek measures to sustain security.

The best way of maintaining the peace and security of a certain community, he pointed out, is through the active involvement of the people living in that particular place with honoraria for peace keepers directly coming from the local government unit.

“I am very optimistic that these plans and ambitions for this locality would be realized because the people of this town choose and push me to be their local chief executive for a change... of course, with the popular support,” he said. (Anne Acosta)