Newly proclaimed Mayor-elect Lawrence Teves of Tanjay City expressed confidence that his political opponents and their supporters who may still have clouts in the city government, will eventually cooperate with his administration.

Teves, whose election was questioned by his opponents for alleged irregularities, said his program is beneficial to everybody, there is no reason to derail it.

The camp of mayoralty candidate Neil Salma had protested the authenticity of 27 election returns in Tanjay. But election officer Rafael Orillana said the board of canvassers in the city dismissed the protest. This prompted Salma to bring the issue before the Commission on Election Manila.

But Orillana said the commission also dismissed the protest on June 29, so he proclaimed Teves the following day.

Teves said among his priorities is the setting up of an emergency hospital in the city and the creation of cooperatives in all barangays in Tanjay. "In Tanjay, we might be quarreling today, but eventually the passion will fade away," he said.*RA

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