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Tuesday, July 23, 2002
One more defects to BO-PK; Tomas accepts Yodi
By Gingging A. Campaña/Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
THE Kugi Uswag Sugbo (Kusug) lost another barangay captain to the administration when pro-recall Zapatera Barangay Chief Francisco Benedicto yesterday took his oath of office before Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
While barangay chiefs William Balaga of Pari-an and Jerome Lim of Sta. Cruz brought their councilors to Osmeña for the oath-taking, they claimed it was only for the sake of reconciliation. There was no talk of partisanship.
Balaga refused to say if he’s still with Kusug or otherwise, while Lim told reporters he is still allied with Kusug.
Mayor Osmeña, meanwhile, announced he is accepting Busay’s Eliodoro “Yodi” Sanchez to his administration.
“People said I should have a change of heart. After all we are Christians. But not Joe Navarro because he is dangerous. He is clearly a mercenary,” he said.
Navarro, who is Association of Barangay Councils president, said he doesn’t mind if Osmeña won’t reconcile with him.
“Bisan og ako na lang usa. Akong prinsipyo dili nako i-compromise,” he said yesterday. (I don’t care if I’m the only one left. I’m not going to compromise my principle.)
With Benedicto’s defection, the number of Kusug village chiefs who shifted their allegiance to BO-PK now totals five.
Getting more than the majority of village chiefs is imperative for the BO-PK after 54 out of 80 of them signed last July 6 a recall petition against Mayor Osmeña.
Last week, Romeo Ocarol of Pasil, Rustica Asid of Buhisan, Nenita Bacus of Pamutan and Leto Fajardo of Tejero confirmed their defection to BO-PK, citing easy access to projects and financial assistance from City Hall as their reasons.
Sought for his view on the defections, Osmeña said, “Well, we always pretend we love each other. It’s okay. Humana man. The people have spoken. Whether I like it or not I have to go along.”
In a talk with reporters outside Osmeña’s office after his oath-taking, Benedicto told reporters he just went to the mayor “for the sake of reconciliation.”
“We wanted to test the waters kung modagayday ba gyud ang kaayohan. I’m still with Kusug,” he said.
Asked if he has made it clear to Osmeña that they are not defecting to BO-PK, Benedicto replied, “Wa man sab siya mangutana nako. He did not give any conditions.” (He didn’t ask.)
“I don’t think Alvin would get mad because I’m still Kusug,” he added.
Later, during his press conference, the mayor said it’s up to Benedicto if he only came for the sake of reconciliation.
“That’s fine with me. I won in his barangay anyway,” Osmeña said.
At 1:50 p.m., talks reached the City Hall media center that Benedicto recanted his statements.
Sun.Star called up Benedicto to clarify his statements but he said he was “only misquoted by the reporter who sought the mayor’s comment.”
Told he was not misquoted and reminded of his exact words in front of City Hall reporters that morning, Benedicto laughed and said, “It’s up to you to understand.
My going up there is already a sign that I’m with BO-PK.”
When Sun.Star pressed for a more explicit statement, saying reporters need to take down what is said and not what they assume is meant, he said, “Nakatando ra man ko sa inyong pangutana.”
Apart from Balaga, Lim and Benedicto, Tejero Barangay Chief Leto Fajardo, who earlier shifted allegiance to BO-PK, also took his oath of office with six of his councilors.
Only Barangay Councilor-elect Claudio Batas, who reportedly said he could not afford to leave Kusug, did not join the oath-taking.
Osmeña also swore into office BO-PK allies Joel Sable of Suba and his councilors, and Jerry Guardo of Barangay Sambag I and councilors.
Meanwhile, Balaga said the members of the Pari-an Barangay Council decided to reconcile with Osmeña “because we believe he is a good mayor and we respect his offer to reconcile.”
Navarro, who led 399 barangay officials in a move to recall the mayor, refused to comment on the defection of Kusug-allied barangay captains to BO-PK.
However, he disagreed with some who said they defected to get their barangay projects implemented.
Navarro, who has been Barangay Punta Princesa head for 30 years, said most of his projects were implemented without a cent from City Hall.
“Nakat-on ko og self-reliance. Pila ra ma’y project nga makuha sa City Hall?” he pointed out.
Navarro also refused to reveal any details about Kusug’s plan for their oath-taking since Kusug head and former mayor Alvin Garcia will arrive from Hawaii tomorrow yet.
However, Labangon Barangay Chief-elect Felix Abella, who almost lost his reelection bid to a BO-PK bet, yesterday took oath before Judge Pampio Abarintos, whose son, Andrew, also got a seat in Tisa’s barangay council and is probably the youngest barangay councilor in the city.
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