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Monday, December 17, 2007
Cebu Mayor's choice gives up fight
By Rene H. Martel
THE Cebu City opposition hopes to bank on a rift among Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) barangay captains, many of whom are “disgruntled” with the current situation, to gain the upper hand in the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) election later this month.
But the BOPK answered with a maneuver of its own, with Talamban’s Alvin Arcilla deciding he will no longer contest Eugenio Faelnar of Guadalupe’s attempt to get reelected as ABC president. Whoever wins gains a seat in the City Council.
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Informed of the development, opposition leader Jonathan Guardo last night said Arcilla’s decision affected their strategy, and that his brother, Sambag I’s Jerry Guardo, will only run for ABC president “if it is a three-cornered fight.”
In an interview, Arcilla said that Mayor Tomas Osmeña informed him late yesterday afternoon that he lost in the straw balloting, which the mayor commissioned among the mostly BOPK-allied barangay captains.
“According to the mayor, Jingjing (Faelnar) won the straw balloting. And it is my decision that whatever the results, I will respect them,” Arcilla said.
He said that except for Mambaling’s Rodrigo Estella and Tabunan’s Bernabe Arcayan, the 34 south district village chiefs voted for Faelnar.
Advantage
While barangay captains from the Banilad area to the mountain barangays picked him, the urban north district barangay leaders cast their lot with Faelnar.
“Before I decided to run, I prayed for a sign. I think this is for the good of my family. I will just concentrate on Talamban,” Arcilla said.
Instead of preparing for the Dec. 29 elections, for instance, he said he will devote his time this Christmas to a Dec. 25 feeding program for 1,200 children and holiday celebrations with barangay workers and his furniture factory workers.
His decision also dimmed the chances of Jerry Guardo, who has accepted the challenge to run as an alternative candidate.
In an interview in yesterday’s Christmas party for the opposition, Jerry said he was convinced that the division among BOPK’s ranks is to their advantage.
“My corporate exposure, better management, personalized service,” he said when asked what he can offer to the ABC members.
He said Faelnar did well in running the ABC for the past five years, but he has something different to offer the barangay captains.
After endorsing Arcilla for the post, Faelnar last week announced that he wants to be reelected as ABC president.
13 of 80
Jerry said they will try to convince the dissatisfied barangay captains so he will earn the numbers to win the post.
Right now, the opposition only has 13 barangay captains, but Jerry said their strength lies in their unity. “We are united while the BOPK (village chiefs) are divided and disgruntled,” he said.
That may no longer be the case, however, with Faelnar as the sole BOPK candidate for ABC president.
Jonathan earlier said he can convince 20 BOPK barangay captains to join their cause. But last night, he admitted they could not clash head-on with Faelnar.
“If it’s one on one, we’ll lose…but let us see (and wait for) further developments. It’s a slap on Arcilla’s face. Tommy (Osmeña) has betrayed him,” Jonathan said.
“(But) I think Tommy’s grip on the BOPK has weakened. The mere fact that his candidate (Arcilla) was outmaneuvered by Jingjing and George Rama shows he’s already a lameduck mayor,” he added.
Mayor Osmeña is expected to formally reveal the result of the secret balloting during an assembly today.
One man
He wanted the barangay captains to nominate a single candidate for ABC president, before he leaves for the United States this Saturday.
In an interview yesterday, Faelnar reiterated that he will respect the result of the secret balloting.
Faelnar said he recognized the threat coming from the opposition, and will not allow their political party to suffer the consequences of his conflict with Arcilla.
Both Lahug’s Mary Ann de los Santos and former mayor Alvin Garcia said the opposition’s strength is their unity.
“And we are here to strengthen or relationship,” de los Santos said, addressing those who came to their Christmas party.
Garcia, on the other hand, said Jerry has the advantage because he has his family’s financial resources to back him up.
“Anything can still happen between now and Dec. 29,” Jerry said during their party, before Arcilla’s decision was made known. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (December 17, 2007 issue)
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