INSTEAD of highlighting their platforms and programs for what is good for the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), what is highlighted now is black propaganda apparently to destroy the image and reputation of the opposition’s candidate. What is happening is a proxy war between Mabolo Barangay Captain Niña Mabatid, an opposition candidate, and the “former political has-been,” who is endorsing Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklyn Ong.

The fight should be between Ong, a Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK)-backed candidate, and Mabatid, a Malacañang-endorsed candidate. However, the “word war” appears to be concentrated between the “former political has-been” and Mabatid.

Is Ong hiding behind the skirt of his political patron? He should be in the forefront, issuing statements against Mabatid and presenting his programs to his fellow village chiefs. Why is the “former political has-been” taking the cudgels for Ong? If the “former political has-been” believes that ABC is non-partisan, he should leave Ong and Mabatid to do their own campaigning. Is he really obsessed to conquer the majority of the council for his personal agenda?

The “former political has-been” has been issuing statements apparently aimed at destroying Mabatid’s image. Lately, he accused Mabatid of engaging in massive vote-buying to entice his BOPK-allied barangay captains to support her candidacy. He floated the figure of between P500,000 and P1 million that Mabatid allegedly offered to each barangay captain in exchange for their support, which Mabatid denied.

In her statement, Mabatid said, “It is quite amusing bordering on being incredible for the mayor to release to the public that some of his allies were offered a huge amount just to entice them to vote for her during (the) ABC election.” It will not be surprising if her opponent (Ong) will also claim later that she has offered him a huge amount to withdraw. Funny?

But it is not only Mabatid who is spending for her candidacy. Ong is also shelling huge amounts to maintain the loyalty of BOPK allies. They hold frequent parties and socials as a sort of loyalty check. In fact, I’ve heard that after the ABC election, if Ong wins, the latter will take village chiefs who voted for him outside the country. Is that bribery and vote-buying?

BOPK is adopting all strategies to force its allies to vote for Ong. This includes coercion. I was informed that some barangay captains were forced to support Ong because they were threatened by the powers that be that they would be deprived of City Hall support if they do not toe the party line.

I agree with the statement of Mambaling Barangay Captain Atty. Gines Abellana that in BOPK there is no transparency and it’s a one-man rule. It’s dictatorship. What the “former political has-been” wants, expect all his allies to say “amen.” For me, they are not allies but they are slaves.

As what I have said in my previous column, while I believe that the election might be a “bidding war,” I doubt the buying price for each barangay captain would reach P1 million. It is illogical and impractical. If I were in the shoes of Mabatid, even if I were a multi-millionaire, I would not spend that amount for nothing.

I know that in every election, vote-buying is the name of the game. Even in the election of House Speaker, candidates shell out some amount to entice peers to vote for them. But it does not reach P1 million.

How much for a seat in the council? If indeed it is true, what an expensive “public service” seat.