Local News
Barangay captains eye a seat in the Cebu City Council
While they may come from different political groups, it is the chance to represent the barangays that is pushing some incumbent barangay captains to run for Cebu City councilor in the 2019 midterm elections.
In separate interviews, Michael Gacasan (Guadalupe), Phillip Zafra (Tisa), and Prisca Niña Mabatid (Mabolo) have expressed interest in running for a higher elective position.
Being barangay captains and frontliners of the people's grievances is what they all see as an edge against other aspirants.
Gacasan admitted that he is one of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan's (BOPK) possible bets, while Zafra and Mabatid are with Barug Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
"Mayor Tomas Osmeña invited me to run. It will be a chance for me to help the barangays,” Gacasan said in Cebuano.
Zafra, a former president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and a former ex-officio member of the council, said he was invited by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and former mayor Michael Rama to join their slate.
"I will run this coming elections. I believe the development of the city should start in the barangay level," he said.
Although she has yet to take oath before PDP-Laban, Mabatid said she wants to help the party and serve as a north district city councilor.
"I'm leaning towards running gyud. I want to be an instrument to provide the basic services in the barangay," she said.
Gacasan, a former councilman, is on in his last term as barangay captain. Guadalupe has the largest voting population in the south district.
From a councilor’s executive assistant, Zafra became Rama’s chief of staff before being elected barangay captain of Tisa, a south district barangay.
In December 2013, he won the presidency of the ABC, which earned him a seat in the City Council as an ex-officio member.
Zafra was supposed to be the opposition’s candidate against BOPK's bet Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklyn Ong during the ABC elections last July. But with Mabatid in the picture, he decided to abandon his bid and Barug PDP-Laban endorsed the former instead.
Mabatid lost to Ong.
She is the chief executive officer of PinoyCare Visa Center, a visa consultancy firm. She also recently ventured into beauty and skin care by launching Prisca Beauty and Cosmetics.
Aside from these barangay officials, Inayawan Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo is also reportedly running for the City Council under BOPK.
In separate interviews, Michael Gacasan (Guadalupe), Phillip Zafra (Tisa), and Prisca Niña Mabatid (Mabolo) have expressed interest in running for a higher elective position.
Being barangay captains and frontliners of the people's grievances is what they all see as an edge against other aspirants.
Gacasan admitted that he is one of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan's (BOPK) possible bets, while Zafra and Mabatid are with Barug Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
"Mayor Tomas Osmeña invited me to run. It will be a chance for me to help the barangays,” Gacasan said in Cebuano.
Zafra, a former president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and a former ex-officio member of the council, said he was invited by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and former mayor Michael Rama to join their slate.
"I will run this coming elections. I believe the development of the city should start in the barangay level," he said.
Although she has yet to take oath before PDP-Laban, Mabatid said she wants to help the party and serve as a north district city councilor.
"I'm leaning towards running gyud. I want to be an instrument to provide the basic services in the barangay," she said.
Gacasan, a former councilman, is on in his last term as barangay captain. Guadalupe has the largest voting population in the south district.
From a councilor’s executive assistant, Zafra became Rama’s chief of staff before being elected barangay captain of Tisa, a south district barangay.
In December 2013, he won the presidency of the ABC, which earned him a seat in the City Council as an ex-officio member.
Zafra was supposed to be the opposition’s candidate against BOPK's bet Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklyn Ong during the ABC elections last July. But with Mabatid in the picture, he decided to abandon his bid and Barug PDP-Laban endorsed the former instead.
Mabatid lost to Ong.
She is the chief executive officer of PinoyCare Visa Center, a visa consultancy firm. She also recently ventured into beauty and skin care by launching Prisca Beauty and Cosmetics.
Aside from these barangay officials, Inayawan Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo is also reportedly running for the City Council under BOPK.
