Did the 20 barangay captains who were present for Councilor Edgar Labella’s announcement at his office visited voluntarily or were they invited?
A staffer of the mayor’s office said they called up the barangay captains and invited them to hear Labella’s announcement.
Councilor Jose Daluz III said he also invited some south barangay captains to disprove criticisms that Labella doesn’t have the support of south district barangay officials.
Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said one of the barangay officials who went to Labella’s office told him that they came from a seminar workshop in Danao City and were ferried to Labella’s office.
Mountain barangay captains were in Danao City since Monday for a hilly land seminar workshop.
Young said he was told that Agsungot barangay captain Pastor Alcover II led them to Labella’s office.
Young said Alcover was among those invited by Rama to join his north district councilors slate.
Leaving BO-PK
Aside from Alcover, also present during Labella’s announcement were south district barangay captains Lorna Damalerio of Sapangdaku, Rita Sabal of Babag, Dante Tabucal of Sudlon I and Ronaldo Labitad of Pamutan.
Other south district barangay captains were Lucresia Gabatu of Tabunan, Rosalita Calleno of Buot Taup, Roger Ressurreccion of Suba, Jose Navarro of Punta Princesa, Rustico Ignaio of Inayawan, Benjamine Zabate of Sawang Calero.
They were joined by barangay captains Dave Tumulak of Basak Pardo, Rudlfo Estella of Mambaling, George Rama of Basak San Nicolas and Victor Buendia of Labangon.
Barangay captains from the north district that were present were Elvis Narra of Adlaon, Ramil Ayuman of Apas, Leonilo Bontillao of Pit-os, Nerrisa Antolihao of Budlaan and Maria Velasquez of Pulang Bato.
Rama allies like businessman Rene Mercado and the mayor’s consultant lawyer. Jade Ponce were in attendance.
“I am now officially leaving BO-PK at this time. Goodbye,” said Busay barangay captain Eleudoro Sanchez.
But the other barangay captains said they were still undecided on whom to support for mayor.
BO-PK talent
Young said the BO-PK was confident that only Councilors Labella, Daluz and Richard Cuenco left their ranks.
He said talks of Councilor Leah Japson leaving BO-PK is unlikely to happen.
“She (Japson) has shown where her loyalty is in big ways,” said Young.
The vice mayor said he takes pride in the thought that Rama is getting candidates from BO-PK, an indication that their group is full of talents.
“The opposition always have to get (candidates) from us to get a good candidate. That is something to be proud about,” the vice mayor said.
Young said the presence of the 20 barangay captains in Labella’s office doesn’t bother him at all.
Young said Navarro has always been a member of the opposition group.
Arante boys
He said Sanchez already left BO-PK after he ran and lost against BO-PK’s bet Michael Rallota during the 2010 Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) elections.
Young said some other barangay captains were among the “Arante boys,” a group of south district barangay captains whom Representative Osmeña accused of implementing “substandard” projects by Arante Construction. “We didn’t lose anyone,” he said.
Ayuman said he was supporting the Rama-Labella tandem because he supports the Cuidad Banilad-Talamban corridor project, which Osmeña and the other BO-PK allies opposed since it was spearheaded by the Capitol.
“But I keep my respect for the (BO-PK) councilors,” Ayuman said.
Sanchez said he supports Rama because the mayor’s brand of politics isn’t vindictive and allows for participation.
Sanchez said many of the city’s barangay captains are also comfortable with Rama “because he doesn’t get angry easily.”
When asked if more barangay captains will join the mayor Sanchez said “there will be surprises later on.” Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac