Disagreement over how their supporters will get appointed in City Hall, if they win, and how to disburse campaign funds has resulted in the split of the Liberal Party in Lapu-Lapu City.
Yesterday, LP mayoral candidate Efrain “Jun” Pelaez announced the “expulsion” of LP’s congressional bet Angel Rodriguez and six candidates for city councilor from the party.
Pelaez said he disagreed with the proposal Rodriguez’s group hire their supporters as ‘job orders’ in the City Hall if they win.
The mayoral bet said his plan is to stop the practice of hiring ‘job orders’ but instead, he plans to make all City Hall employees regular, for them to social benefits and security of tenure — if he wins.
The practice of hiring job orders, Pelaez said creates corruption.
Expelled from Pelaez’s group aside from Rodriguez are City Council bets Rufo Bering, Janvi Dela Cerna, Titing Tumulak, Jerry Cosep and Tino Aying.
Pelaez claims to have in his possession a letter from LP secretary general Mel Senen Sarmiento affirming the “expulsion” of his erstwhile political allies.
Rodriguez and the six city council candidates, should stop representing the administration party.
Rodriguez calls Pelaez’s claim as a bluff and would only believe their expulsion if the are served copies of the “expulsion” letter.
Rodriguez on the other hand accuses Pelaez of putting some of their campaign funds in his personal accounts and never showed them an accounting or transparency.
Pelaez denied the allegation that he is not transparent in managing campaign funds. “They were just creating issues to maligned my name,” he said.
Pelaez is running against reelectionist Paz Radaza while Rodriguez is running against Aileen Radaza. The Radazas are members of the Lakas Party.
With the “expulsion” announced by Pelaez in a press conference yesterday, he is left with only his vice mayoral bet Rey Berdin and City Council bets Alan Amodia, Fred Bensi, Tony Dingcong, Ren Ren Igot, Thelma Jumao-as, Memie Baguio and Teddy Tojong.