A TURNCOAT, according to Wikipedia, “is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party.”
To distinguish from being a traitor, the switch must take place under these circumstances: “in groups, often driven by one or more leaders” and “when the goal that formerly motivated and benefited the person becomes (or is perceived as having become) either no longer feasible or too costly even if success is achieved.”
Since Guba Barangay Captain Orlan Herrera and Day-as Barangay Captain-elect Freddie Esmas defected en masse, meaning their councilors and their Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councilors also switched sides with them, they can’t be considered traitors for leaving Barug Team Rama to take oath before the head of BOPK, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
And Esmas is definitely no backstabber since his justification for jumping ship fits the second circumstance almost to a tee.
“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.
Well, of course.
“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,” he continues.
Oh stop it already, Esmas. You had me at “kung di ta suportahan sa mayor, kutob lang ta sa hirap.”
At least, he was being honest, although I won’t go so far as to say that he was being earnest.
His group’s move seemed to have taken opposition member Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella by surprise.
“He talked to us yesterday (May 20) 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,” the vice mayor said.
Oh who are you kidding? Esmas already told you he would take oath before the mayor. If that wasn’t his way of saying he was breaking up with Team Rama I don’t know what is.
At any rate, Labella and his allies should brace themselves for other “changes of heart.” Because unless Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers’s bill penalizing political turncoatism is passed, “the rampant party-switching of politicians” that “undermines democracy and brings confusion to the people” will continue.
Barbers’s words. Not mine.