IN a span of four days, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kasuwagan (BOPK) earned new members from two barangays that were formerly allied with the opposition.
The most recent group of elected officials to jump ship were Day-as Barangay Captain-elect Freddie Esmas and Councilors Maria Lota Conejos, Marlene Bernal, Carlos Ferolin, Nickelito Dingal, Benigno Caniga Jr., Carmen Entoma, and Regalado Hisoler Jr.
They took oath before Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday morning at City Hall along with their Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Councilors Julas Dausan, Kherly Flores, Alaric Fergus Villarin, Hazel Joy Abella, Dayanara Torres, David Suico and Lovely Amado.
Osmeña is the leader of BOPK.
Esmas, who first ran for village councilman under Barug Team Rama, is the second opposition-allied elected barangay captain to join BOPK.
The first to jump ship was reelected Guba Barangay Captain Orlan Herrera.
He and Councilors Alexander Bontilao, Richel Eraba, Yvonne Miñoza, Teodoro Borbon, Antonio Miñoza Sr., Nelson Gabunada, and Julito Ardiente took oath before Osmeña last Friday.
Esmas, though, pointed out that he defected from the opposition on amicable terms and had informed Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella of his group’s intentions before taking oath as new BOPK members.
“My running is really for the best interest of my barangay, nothing else. Of course, giklaro lang nako that I have to make a very hard decision of which the bottom line is for the best interest of Day-as,” he said.
“We know that Mayor Tom is the mayor, whether we like it or not. Kung di ta suportahan sa mayor, kutob lang ta sa hirap. This is not for my personal being. I am looking forward to serving my people,” Esmas added.
Labella, in a separate interview, said the opposition has no qualms about the decision of Esmas’s group.
“He talked to us yesterday (May 21) that he will take oath before the mayor. He did not (give hints on defecting). Whether or not he told us the truth, it is up to him. But what he told me was that he will just take his oath before the mayor. After all, barangays are supposed to be nonpartisan,” he said.
For Osmeña, the addition of new members to BOPK is a welcome development.
Before the May 14 polls, only 15 barangay captains supported BOPK.
“These are major, positive steps for BOPK but I’m not taking things for granted and the war has not started yet,” he said.
Turn of the tide
In an unofficial report released by the Cebu City Barangay Affairs Office a day after the elections, 49 newly elected barangay captains are allies of BOPK and only 31 are allies of the opposition.
But the untimely death of Duljo-Fatima barangay captain-elect Ricardo Joel Ycong had turned the tables slightly in favor of the opposition since outgoing village chief Elmer Abella will be assuming his post by way of succession. Abella, who was elected as first councilor, is an ally of the opposition while Ycong was a candidate of BOPK.
This would mean that from 49, BOPK’s down to 48, while the opposition has 32 allied-barangay captains.
However, the addition of Herrera and Esmas has gained BOPK two new barangay captains under its wing.
As of press time, BOPK has 50 allies while the opposition has 30.
Earlier, Osmeña stressed the need for them to get the leadership of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation, whose presidents will both sit as ex-officio members of the City Council.
In his news conference yesterday, the mayor reiterated that “good programs” for the city will be supported by having their allies elected as ABC and SK president.
The opposition wants reelected Tisa Barangay Captain Phillip Zafra to keep his post as ABC head, while reelected Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklyn Ong is BOPK’s frontrunner for the position.
“No such thing as lock-in, but if you want to place your bet, put it on Franklyn. In this business, there is no such thing as sigurado na,” Osmeña said.
As for their bet for SK president, Osmeña said they have three candidates in mind. The SKF elections is set on May 28.
Although he forgot from which barangays the two are from, the mayor said they are cum laude graduates.
The other one is elected San Nicolas Proper SK chair Jessica Resch.
SunStar Cebu tried to reach Resch, but she was not available as of press time.
The opposition, on the other hand, will not meddle with the selection process of their bets.
Labella stood pat that they will leave their SK heads to decide on their own.
Unofficial reports from the City Youth Development Office revealed that 41 elected SK chairpersons are allied with BOPK, while 39 are identified with the opposition.