Saturday, December 15, 2007 Nalzaro: ‘Palabra de honor’ in the ABC polls By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
THERE'S this old saying that goes, “Only fools do not change their minds.”
If so, Guadalupe Barangay Captain Eugenio “Jingjing” Faelnar is not a fool because he changed his mind. After repeatedly saying he is no longer interested in the presidency of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Cebu City, he has bared his plan to run for the post.
Faelnar justified his turnaround by claiming he was overwhelmed by the support shown by his fellow village chiefs, especially by newcomers, during the ABC general assembly last Saturday. Besides, he said, he still has to finish the projects he left behind in his previous stint as ABC head.
What overwhelming support is Faelnar talking about? Only Basak San Nicolas Barangay Captain George Rama is asking him to seek reelection. In the first place, had Mayor Tomas Osmeña not supported him, he would not have won the ABC presidency the last time. Osmeña and Faelnar are drinking buddies.
Many barangay captains actually perceive Faelnar as arrogant. Despite this, they still supported him because of their fear of the mayor. You know what Tomas does if he won’t get what he wants.
Some barangay captains even accused Faelnar of favoritism in giving aid and projects to the barangays. A white paper circulated last year claimed he misused ABC funds and was involved in immoral acts. But no formal complaint was filed against him.
Faelnar, in emphasizing his plan not to seek reelection as ABC president, said he is a man of one word. He even said he was the one who asked the mayor to “release him” from the ABC so he can focus on and devote his time to the barangay.
The result of the last barangay election where he only won over his closest rival by a margin of 700 votes supposedly made Jingjing realize that he has to give priority to the needs of his constituents. He said his time got split between ABC matters and the affairs of the barangay.
But I was informed that the other reason why Faelnar initially did not want to run for ABC president was the disqualification case filed against him by lawyer Salvador Solima. He thought he would be disqualified. But the case was dismissed, thus his change of mind.
In the meantime, Osmeña endorsed Talamban Barangay Captain Arvin Arcilla to succeed Faelnar. Arcilla was hesitant at first but the mayor later succeeded in prodding him to make a go at it. Arcilla formed his own slate until Faelnar announced his turnaround.
Poor Arcilla. He was dropped like a hot potato by his major patron, the mayor. Now Osmeña is saying he is open to secret balloting for the ABC polls. Meaning that, like Faelnar, Tomas also has no word of honor.
Just because his drinking buddy decided to run, the mayor is breaking his promise to support Arcilla? He made Arcilla look foolish and become a laughing stock of his colleagues, his constituents and the Cebuanos. What kind of a leader Osmeña is? He does not respect even his political supporters and allies.
Because they changed their minds, we can say that both Osmeña and Faelnar are not foolish. Pero wa silay mga dugokan, baruganan ug prinsipyo.
