Wednesday, November 07, 2007 Nalzaro: ABC presidency By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
REELECTED Guadalupe Barangay Captain Eugenio “Jingjing” Faelnar said he will no longer seek the presidency of Cebu City’s Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) so he can devote most of his time to his barangay.
The result of the recently concluded barangay elections that had him winning by only a margin of 700 votes against his closest opponent made him realize that he has to focus on delivering services to his constituents.
This is a welcome development. For me, it's a good riddance because Faelnar has not been serving the interest of ABC members. The association has lost its independence because he has become a puppet of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
When former Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera and Lahug’s Mary Ann de los Santos questioned the ownership of the South Reclamation Project and were at loggerheads with Osmeña, the ABC under Faelnar passed a resolution condemning their two colleagues and giving a vote of confidence to the mayor.
When the ABC did that, it lost its independence and became partisan. The group should have played neutral because its members were the ones involved in the controversy.
Well, we know that had it not been for his closeness with the mayor, Faelnar would not have become ABC president. He and Tomas are drinking buddies.
Faelnar’s administration has also been hounded by rumors, like the one linking him to an ABC staff member, a woman, who was the one allegedly calling the shots in the office. He was also accused of using ABC properties and funds for personal purposes. I suggest that before Faelnar leaves the ABC, a thorough audit should be conducted.
But I think the real reason why Faelnar is not seeking reelection as ABC president is because he has heard something about his disqualification case.
Meanwhile, Mayor Osmeña said he will not intervene in the election of the next ABC president and will leave the decision to the barangay captains. Don't make us laugh, mayor. Tell that to the dead marines.
But let us grant that what the mayor said is true. Can he afford to stand on the sidelines when de los Santos might run for ABC president? Or why won’t he support Pahina Central Barangay Captain Sisinio Andales or Busay’s Yody Sanchez, both of whom showed interest in the position?
