A sort of ‘coup de etat’ to replace an overstaying president of a women’s organization Thursday in Mabini town has resulted in the ‘victim’ suffering a coma and landed at the Borja Hospital. Clearly drawn against partisan lines, the election of officers of the Poblacion I Women’s Association, jolted the Mabini officialdom with the faction led by Mayor Esther Fostanes-Tabigue denouncing the conduct of the election as arbitrary and questionable. Tabigue is running for reelection while her opponent, former top provincial policeman Sancho Bernales is supported by V-Mayor Stephen Rances. Both Tabigue and Rances were in the same ticket in 2010 only to part ways in the coming 2013 polls. But the camp of V-Mayor Rances and barangay captain Crispina Vergara which is at odds with the mayor’s group, defended the holding of the elections as “above board”. Vergara is the president of the Federation of the Liga ng mga Barangay, Mabini chapter, in her capacity as barangay captain of Poblacion I in Mabini. As such, she earned the right of becoming an ex-oficio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan representing the provincial Liga.

The Mabini fracas was reported to the Post Friday by Kagawad Vic Jotojot apparently on instruction of Mayor Tabigue. According to the lady mayor, Vergara under the pretext of distributing medicines to the women’s group, called for the election of officers to replace its president Lolita Regner. This was confirmed by V-Mayor Rances who said, Regner was president of the women’s group for almost 10 years insinuating that she was already overstaying in her position. When news broke out that she was replaced, Regner reportedly collapsed resulting in her comatose. She is now confined at the Borja Hospital and still in a coma, according to reports from the hospital. Trying to brush aside insinuations that she was the cause of the serious physical condition of Regner, Vergara said that the election was held not because of her own decision but a collective one among members of the women’s group. It was also confirmed that Regner and Vergara had a falling out after the later snubbed at least three summons from the barangay captain. The summons stemmed from a complaint of a certain Paz Dizon, president of the Poblacion II Women’s Association, arising from a transaction involving a clothing contract . Dizon is said to be a seamstress.

According Vergara she felt insulted as barangay captain when her summons were ignored by Regner. The lady barangay captain said she was contemplating to impose disciplinary action against Regner. It was not clear from recent developments if the new election was part of the disciplinary action against Regner. But Mayor Tabigue was not convinced of Vergara’s role in the election. Believing that it was Vergara who instigated the election, Mayor Tabigue said Vergara has no authority to call for an election because the women’s group has its own constitution and by-laws. Regner suffered the sudden seizure after hearing the bad news in her hometown regarding her replacement as president of the women’s group. Hurt, she reportedly lapsed into a coma after she collapsed. She was whisked to the hospital through the mobile facility of Tarsier 117. As coordinator of Mabini’s nutrition program, she attended a seminar in this city last Thursday.