Tuesday, December 18, 2007 ABC session turns into selection of 'consensus' slate with Faelnar as president
WITH opposition barangay captains present in a gathering supposedly called for by the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) village chiefs yesterday chose 11 among those present to complete re-electionist Eugenio Faelnar’s lineup for next week’s ABC election.
The winners will complete Faelnar’s cast as common candidates of the administration BOPK party for the Dec. 29 election.
Briefing
Yesterday’s gathering was meant for Department of Interior and Local Government DILG)-Cebu City Director Patricio Gabuya to brief the village chiefs on the preparations they need to do for the Dec. 29 elections.
Gabuya had informed the barangay captains that they should handpick who among them should serve as members of the board of canvassers, the committee on nomination, and committee on registration.
But the naming of the members of the board of canvassers and committees on registration and nomination did not transpire because Gabuya was insistent that the ABC follow the schedule set by DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno.
It was set for tomorrow yet.
While the barangay captains were waiting for Gabuya to arrive at the venue, papers serving as “ballots” were handed out to the each of them.
Each paper contained a slot for “vice president” and 10 blank lines for the “ABC board.”
Faelnar explained that they wanted to come up with a consensus among the barangay captains, which was why even the opposition-allied village chiefs were invited.
But Talamban’s Alvin Arcilla said he did not receive any invitation, unlike Busay’s Eliodoro “Yody” Sanchez who showed up because Faelnar called and informed him of the gathering yesterday morning.
Sanchez was with Arcilla’s lineup before the latter backed off from the race for ABC president.
That was after Mayor Tomas Osmeña informed Arcilla that he lost to Faelnar in the straw balloting the mayor did to determine the consensus among barangay captains.
Since Faelnar as ABC president candidate was already a given, the barangay captains nominated candidates only for vice president and 10 board members.
Others who are interested in running were told that they were welcome to run but Sanchez said it is an “unwritten rule” not to violate the consensus.
“Mao ra man sad tong mga tawhana to ang mamotar karong petsa 29. So respetaran tong desisyona sa grupo,” he said. (They will be the same ones who will vote on the 29th, let’s just respect the group’s decision.)
Basak San Nicolas Barangay Captain George Rama, who helped moderate the nomination and lay out the rules, likewise made the same appeal to the 60 barangay captains present.
“Maayo unta inyong tumanon tanan kaning resulta, ug ayaw pailad aning nanag-ingong modagan,” he said. (Please follow what has been agreed on. Don’t be fooled by those who are saying they will be running.)
Jerry Guardo, who earlier announced that he would run for ABC president for the opposition, admitted he had a better chance of winning had Arcilla opted to run despite the result of Osmeña’s straw balloting that had Faelnar leading.
He was nominated yesterday but it was invalidated after it was agreed that those who were not around should not qualify for nomination.
T. Padilla’s Michael Ralota, a BOPK ally and incumbent ABC board member, got the same treatment as he was in Manila yesterday for an important business.
Around seven identified opposition members, including Pasil’s Romeo Ocarol, did not object when the papers were distributed.
Pahina Central’s Sisinio Andales won against Mambaling’s Rodolfo Estella and Luz’s Nida Cabrera for the right to represent BOPK in the election for ABC vice president.
Estella and Cabrera, though, won along with eight others as official candidates for ABC board members along with Sanchez, Lorenzo Basamot (Camputhaw), Jojo Sable (Suba), Rolly Diorico (Punta Princesa), Jerome Lim (Sta. Cruz), Jomarie Benedicto (Zapatera), Eduardo Cabulao (Tisa), and Roger Ruizo (San Roque).
They were chosen through secret balloting for the barangay captains to freely nominate and choose their favored candidates. Ocarol and four others did not make the cut after getting just a few votes.
The barangay captains are meeting again tomorrow for the formation and designation of the members of the nominations, registration/credentials election committee, board of canvassers, and board of election supervisors. (RHM)
