Monday, April 16, 2007 Challengers press on despite lack of backing from village chiefs By Rene H. Martel Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THEY are the challengers, many of them neophytes of the political arena.
But Tribu Guardo/Genuine Opposition (GO) candidates are optimistic of their chances, banking on a clamor for change in Cebu City that they say they hear from residents they visit in their sorties.
And they promise that the mountain barangays will not be left out if they are elected into office to take charge of City Hall, dominated by the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
“Lisod man gud ang pagbaligya sa mga kandidato sa BOPK. Kung imong tan-awon, for the last three years, its candidates were unable to deliver what was expected of them,” Guardo said.
He admitted, though, that because majority of the 80 barangay captains are BOPK allies, the GO finds it hard to use barangay sports complexes as pulong-pulong venues.
Village chiefs, he said, are apparently afraid to earn the ire of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, BOPK chairman. Contact
But candidate Jenkin Cabanit said they just go straight to the residents, most of whom want a change of leadership.
“Cebuanos are clamoring for change. So even if we have no incumbents (in the line-up), okay ra, maski dili amoa ang mga barangay captains kay naa may mga leaders,” added lawyer Joy Caballes, who is running for south district councilor.
After their convoy traveled narrow dirt roads, with ravines on the side in some areas, the GO candidates led by congressional aspirant Jonathan Guardo visited yesterday the south district barangays Bonbon, Babag and Sudlon I, which bounds Cebu City and Toledo City.
Although they did not conduct house-to-house handshaking, as homes in the mountain barangays are located far apart, they held pulong-pulongs, promising to give more attention to basic services.
Supporters wearing orange and red shirts distributed leaflets and stapled posters outside the houses near where the candidates delivered speeches.
At the sidelines, trusted leaders checked the attendance from their respective areas for their report to the campaign coordinators.
Mayoral candidate Mary Ann delos Santos introduced herself as an alternative candidate with a heart, and Raymond Alvin Garcia promised that like his father, former mayor Alvin Garcia, he will remember the mountain folks.
Offering themselves as catalysts of change in the city’s political landscape, lawyers Salvador “Buddy” Solima, Caballes, and Dede Baring; Gabuya; former Kugi Uswag Sugbo bet Cabanit; barangay captains Danilo Lim and Jose Navarro; and Digoy Abellana, took turns selling themselves to the crowd.
And after the pulong-pulongs, the candidates traveled back to the city proper, leaving behind eager faces and children whistling their campaign jingles.
