RE-ELECTED Barangay 17 chairman Jerico Goldmar Ebabacol yesterday, May 23, said his political party, Padayon Pilipino, had no idea when he took his oath of office before Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno on Tuesday, May 22.
However, Ebabacol--a staunch ally of the party's founder and political kingpin ex-mayor Vicente Emano--maintained that his decision to be sworn in by Moreno does not mean that he forged allegiance with the sitting mayor.
The young village chair clarified he is not leaving the party and his decision was only a form of respect to Moreno being the father of the city.
"Ang barangay is a non-partisan institution. Ang akong paghurar kang Mayor Moreno paghatag og respeto isip ang akong barangay nabelong sa CDO. But it doesn't mean nga naghurar ta sa mayor ang atong politikanhong kalihukan anaa na sa usab sa mayor," Ebabacol said.
Ebabacol said politics was not even brought up during his take oath with Moreno, though he doubts if Padayon would still take him as candidate to lead the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in the city.
The party announced earlier that Ebabacol was one of their bets in the ABC elections this coming August.
"Malipayon ta kung tagaan ta sa kahigayonan bisan nag take oath ko kang Mayor Moreno kay tanan man sab kwalipikado. I don't know unsa na ilang decision karon,"he said.
"But karon wala sa akong huna-huna ang ABC kay ang ako is mga programa para sa katawhan sa akong barangay,"he added.
Ebabacol said he would support whoever the party endorses to bid for a seat in the city council if this is for the better representation and welfare of all barangays in the city.
Ebabacol said he is contemplating to reach out to the party leaders about his decision.
"Kung unsa man galing nga akong decision dili lang unta ko hukman tungod kay dili paborable sa mga sumusunod kay ako trabaho ra man ug walay personal ug daotan nga intention sa akong pag-oath. Kung hatagan sa higayon nga makigtagbo walay problema kay Padayon Pilipino member baya ko," Ebabacol said.