FOR 11 years, Isabelo “Belong” Darnayla, barangay captain of Basak was a thorn in the side of the Radaza family in Lapu-Lapu City.
That’s history as Mayor Paz Radaza announced a turnaround in loyalty and welcomed Darnayla and the barangay Basak councilmen saying they now support her administration.
“Sa atong paningkamot nga maserbisyohan ang atong mga constituents sa barangay Basak, amo gyu’ng giduol si Belong didto sa iyang barangay ug mihangyo sa ilang suporta,” said Mayor Paz Radaza in a speech welcoming barangay Basak officials at the session hall of the City Council.
(As part of our efforts to to serve constituents in barangay Basak, we approached Belong to ask for his support.)
Mayor Radaza said she met with Darnayla last November to seek his support in development projects in barangay Basak, one of the biggest barangays in Lapu-Lapu City.
Darnayla, for his part, said his pledge of allegiance to Mayor Radaza and Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Arturo Radaza is driven by his determination to serve the people of barangay Basak.
Congressman Radaza, who still moves around in crutches due to a knee injury, attended the welcome ceremony.
Citing health problems, the elder Radaza is fielding his daughter Aileen Radaza to run for the city’s lone congressional seat in the May 2013 polls.
Leo Mercado, president of the city’s Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), said he was glad of the development.
He noted Darnayla’s absence in past ABC meetings and activities.