Lawyer Alston Kevin Amutan Anarna recently took his oath of office as the newly elected Mayor of the municipality of Silang at the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Church in Cavite.
A neophyte in politics at only 37 years old, he toppled a family that ruled Silang for almost three decades. Supreme Court Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez administered his oath, which was witnessed by his family and Cavite Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla.
“Malaki ang aking pasasalamat sa mga minamahal kong kapwa Silangueño dahil pinayagan nila akong manguna para sa pagbabago dito sa Silang. Ang pagkapanalo ko sa nakaraang halalaan ang isang malakas na mensahe ng aking mga kababayan na gusto nila ng galing, husay, talino at malasakit,” the mayor-elect said.
Anarna will assume office on July 1, replacing outgoing Mayor Socorro Poblete, whose sister Omil, a former mayor of the town, was defeated by the attorney in the May 9 elections.
The Pobletes had held the local chief executive position of Silang since 1995.
“Tatlong taon na kami magkasama ni Kevin at nang inimbitahan niya ako dito sa kanilang panunumpa, agad kong pinagbigyan dahil alam kong nanindigan ang mga Silangueño para sa pagbabago,” Gov. Remulla revealed.
In his inaugural speech, the mayor-elect thanked Silangueños and promised them big changes in how the local government is being run and how the social services are delivered.
“Sa ilalim po ng aking pamumuno, wala na pong kulay ang pulitika – walang blue or pink o kung ano pa mang political affiliation. Puti nalang ang kulay natin para walang bias at tayo as iisa,” Anarna declared.
“Kaya po pinakikiusapan ko ang ating mga kapitan ng barangay at mga kawani ng lokal na pamahalaan na iwaksi na po natin ang pulitika. Tapos na po yun. May nanalo na. Ngayon naman, oras na para magtrabaho at ibalik sa mamamayang Silangueño ang serbisyong publiko na nararapat.”
Among the mayor-elect’s priorities, which he highlighted during his speech, are the improvement of services of the local government, a weekly caravan at different barangays for easier access to social and medical benefits, the redevelopment of the Silang Public Market, and the improvement of the municipality’s waste management and collection.
To highlight the commitment of the new officials of the local government to the fulfillment of their duties, they once again took an oath, administered by three barangay captains of Silang, in front of thousands of Silangueños at the Cavite State University.
Other new officials who joined Mayor-elect Anarna in taking their oath of office were Board Member Marcos Amutan, Vice Mayor Ted Carranza (a retired general), and the eight councilors-elect.