Samal, Bataan Mayor Alexander Acuzar says he can accept ‘criticism’, and media scrutiny.
Media can ‘criticize’ me anytime – Samal mayor
SAMAL, Bataan – Some news claim that neophyte Samal Mayor Alexander C. Acuzar of this town is a “publicity-shy” for he does not want publicity in policing his image before the eyes of the public. Still, he welcomes “criticisms” about his failure, if any, in his leadership.
Mayor Acuzar said he welcomes scrutiny by newsmen about his leadership, saying the “media can criticize me anytime.”
“If the media can see that I have errors in my administration and leadership, then they can criticize me anytime,” said Acuzar in an impromptu interview.
To hire people to handle his PR (Public Relations) just to improve his image before the eyes of the public, the mayor said, “Ibigay ko na lng sa iba yong ibabayad ko sa media (I better give to others the payment that I supposed to pay to media),” pointed out Acuzar.
Samaleños describe Acuzar as “low profile” and soft-spoken, always wearing a slipper, even inside his office.
A former barangay captain of Palili turned-mayor of this once third-class town, Mayor Acuzar said his office is open to public scrutiny, stressing that he has his own public information office to handle disseminating information about the town’s activities and programs.
Acuzar, 45 years old, is a successful businessman who engages in big construction of infrastructures in Metro Manila. His peers described him as approachable and helpful to the needy.
“Mayor Acuzar is a leader like no other as he uses his own personal money to help the poor and the underprivileged; he is one of its kind, a local leader,” said Vice Mayor Wangbu Pabustan of nearby Abucay town, who himself admires Acuzar.
Acuzar won in a “landslide” and defeated her rival, then incumbent Mayor Aida Macalinao, by a big margin of votes in the last elections, impressing local political observers.
Observers predict that Acuzar can have a promising “bigger” political career in the future due to his being helpful to the needy using his own personal funds, being accessible, and having the wherewithals means to sustain his political journey.
