IS the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) meddling with the elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons in Cebu City in favor of the opposition?
Last May 22, Mayor Tomas Osmeña uploaded photos in his official Facebook page of what appear to be letters of invitation to four elected SK heads allied with Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
Among the recipients were Kenny Silug from Barangay Sawang Calero, Guada Quijano from Calamba, and Jason Rico from Tinago.
The letter, signed by Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, invited elected SK chairpersons to visit Malacañang at 6 last night, May 23, for a tour and audience with President Rodrigo Duterte and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
Were others invited?
Osmeña suspects there is a political agenda behind the invitation. “Wow, Michael Dino, desperate much? Did you invite the SKs from Mandaue and all the other cities in the Visayas as well? Or are you just trying very hard to help your Team Suyop allies in a pathetic last-ditch attempt to cling on to control of the Cebu City Council?” reads a portion of Osmeña’s post.
Both BOPK and the opposition each have eight members in the City Council. Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, the presiding officer, is also a member of the opposition.
The presidents of both the Association of Barangay Councils and the SK Federation will sit as ex-officio members of the council. The SKF election will be on May 28. As of press time, BOPK has 50 barangay captains while the opposition has 30.
Unofficial reports from the City Youth Development Office (CCYDO) revealed that 41 elected SK chairpersons are allied with BOPK, while 39 are identified with the opposition.
‘Symbolic gesture’
But Jess Anthony dela Cruz, CCYDO head, said at least six SK heads are expected to defect from the opposition to join BOPK.
In an interview, dela Cruz said he was not informed as to what the invitation was about and how OPAV selected whom to invite.
“Wa ko’y idea if tanan pero naa’y mga nag-inform nako nga naa’y giinvite but naa sa’y wala. Ang naghatag daw sa invitation kay mga SK councilors sa pikas group. Naa’y mga SK heads na wala mangadto kay nangahadlok ug naglibog para unsa ni. Actually, it is a good opportunity but I don’t know what exactly it is for,” he said. OPAV, though, denied that the invitation of the 80 elected SK chairpersons involved politicking.
In a press statement, OPAV said it is mandated to bring the Office of the President “closer to the grassroots level” to ensure that that their concerns will be addressed immediately.
“The activity is a symbolic gesture of recognition by OPAV to the future leaders of the country who are Visayans. They will be exposed to the change agenda of President Duterte and his administration’s style of governance anchored on change, espousing a drug-free and corrupt-free leadership that transcends politics,” reads a portion of the statement.
In neighboring Talisay City, preparations are also underway for the SK Federation election on Monday. Newly-elected SK chairpersons of the 22 barangays in Talisay will decide who will represent them in the City Council as an ex-officio member.
Celerino Magto, Talisay City interior and local government officer, told SunStar Cebu that the election, organized by the Liga ng mga Barangay, will be held in the Talisay City College at 8 a.m. (RTF with JKV)