Decades-long political rivalry in Agusan ends as scion of one camp joins local ruling party

San Francisco Mayor Grace Carmel Paredes-Bravo took her oath as new member of the National Unity Party before Agusan del Sur Gov. Santiago Cane, Jr. at the governor’s office early this month. Photo courtesy of Team Eddieboing Facebook page.

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Mayor Grace Carmel Paredes-Bravo of this town has willingly joined the National Unity Party (NUP) in Agusan del Sur, becoming part of the local ruling political party led by Agusan del Sur Rep. Adolph Edward Plaza.

By this act, the province’s longest running political rivalry comes to an end, an era in its contemporary history that many locals had thought would never happen.

Bravo’s affiliation with Plaza’s group, known as “Team Eddiebong” (after Adolph Edward’s nickname), has put an end to the bitter political rivalry that spanned decades between her father, Ceferino Paredes Jr., a former governor and congressman of the province’s lone district, and Democrito and Valentina Plaza, the political patriarchs of Agusan del Sur, who have since passed away.

Before joining the NUP, Bravo sought permission from her parents, Eden and Ceferino Jr., who gave their approval.

Her mother, Eden, said in an interview through a private messaging service, that Bravo indeed had asked permission from them. “It was her decision being a mature and independent politician,” Eden said.

The rivalry between the Plazas and the elder Paredes began in 1984 when Ceferino ran as an opposition candidate for a seat in the then Batasang Pambansa but lost to Democrito.

In 1986, Ceferino was appointed officer-in-charge governor after the EDSA uprising. He won the 1988 election against Valentina when she made a comeback bid. However, Valentina, a long-time governor during the Marcos regime in the 1970s, defeated Ceferino Jr. in the 1998 polls.

Ceferino Paredes Jr. served as a congressman for two terms from 1992 to 1998 before challenging Valentina again.

Bravo’s older brother, John Columban, vied for the mayoral seat of this town in the 2019 elections but narrowly lost to administration candidate Solomon Rufila. Bravo, however, secured a significant victory against Rufila in last year’s election which also saw John Columban winning a seat in the Sangguniang Bayan.

The elder Paredes and his wife Eden, both in their late 70s, have since lived a quiet life and stayed away from the public eye.

Plaza, and Agusan del Sur Gov. Santiago Cane, Jr., revealed that Bravo’s decision to join NUP was founded on her desire which they willingly accepted.

Recently, Bravo took her oath as NUP member before Cane at the provincial capitol. While her political allies from the 2022 local election ran as independent candidates under the “Gugma sa Lungsod” group, Bravo stated that some of them might join NUP individually, but it would be their own decision.

Bravo mentioned feeling comfortable joining NUP, citing her brother-in-law, former congressman Narciso Bravo Jr. from Masbate, as one of the party’s pioneers and secretary-general since 2019.

As for the upcoming 2025 local polls, Bravo clarified that it remained unclear if she would be the administration’s candidate, as that decision would be up to the party.

San Francisco Mayor Grace Carmel Paredes-Bravo took her oath as new member of the National Unity Party before Agusan del Sur Gov. Santiago Cane, Jr. at the governor’s office early this month. (Photo courtesy of Team Eddiebong Facebook page.)

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