Saturday, February 02, 2008 Mayor defends his choice bet for barangay councilors’ polls
MAYOR Tomas Osmeña endorsed the True Responsible Officials (TRO) in the coming Liga nga mga Barangay Kagawad sa Pilipinas (LBKP)-Cebu City Chapter election because he wanted to tap former barangay captains for the City’s grassroots sports program.
In his news conference yesterday, the mayor said he supported Capitol Site Barangay Councilor Felix Guanzon’s group because he has the respect of the barangay councilors who were three-term barangay captains, and the new barangay captains as well.
He said he himself urged the former Capitol Site barangay captain to run for LBKP president in the Feb. 16 election.
President
“Why wouldn’t I endorse him and his group when it was me who asked him to run (for LBKP president)?” the mayor said.
Osmeña officially made the endorsement in a letter, informing all 560 barangay councilors of his choice.
Support
“I am glad to endorse Hon. Manuel Guanzon for LBKP president, and his group True Responsible Officials (TRO). I am anticipating your wholehearted support,” the letter read.
Each copy came with a leaflet of Guanzon’s lineup.
“I want the LBKP to handle the sports program of the City. The (City) Council will have less to do, they just have to thresh out the details,” the mayor said. He said that as barangay councilors, the former barangay captains now have more time, and Osmeña wants to “maximize their talents.”
The LBKP has been criticized for failing to implement its programs, and the mayor hopes it will be handled properly this time.
A source told Sun.Star Cebu last month that the endorsement was crucial, as it drew the line between the “Osmeña boys” and the “(Vice Mayor Michael) Rama boys.”
Identified
The other group, Barangay Kagawads sa Dakbayan (Barkada), is “identified with the vice mayor.” Its candidate for president, Suba Barangay Councilor Nicanor Mala-zarte Jr., admitted this.
Campaigned
But Malazarte had said that the Barkada is composed of “original” Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) members, and that they have never actively campaigned for the endorsement of Rama or any other official.
He also said the Barkada candidates will still run because their only purpose is to “revive” the LBKP.
Rama said earlier that he is involved with Barkada because he plays basketball with its members.
But there is no ill feelings among the Barkada group. Malazarte assured that unlike the Association of Barangay Councils election, they will not create trouble by feeling bad because they are not the ones the mayor favored. (RHM)
