SPECULATIONS are rife that Mabolo barangay captain-elect Nina Ompoc Mabatid will run for the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) presidency against the Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK)-endorsed candidate, Kasambagan barangay captain-elect Franklin Ong. However, these are still rumors and Mabatid did not confirm it yet. In her statement to the media the other week, Mabatid denied that she will defect from BOPK to the opposition, Barug PDP-Laban.
But if Mabatid, a perceived BOPK ally, decides to throw her hat into the ABC despite being a neophyte in the political arena, BOPK officials cannot take it against her. Why? Because she felt betrayed by the very people who prodded and egged her to run for the barangay position. Besides, she is also highly qualified to lead the association because she has the capability, ability, knowledge and know-how plus the brains and beauty to run an organization. She would not be successful in her professional life and business if she didn’t possess these qualities and abilities.
Nina is a successful businesswoman. She owns Pinoy Care International, which helps Filipinos who plan to migrate to New Zealand, Canada and to the Middle East. She also owns a placement agency for those who want to work abroad and produces her own beauty products, Prisca Nina products. She has a “rags-to-riches” story. She was featured once by Korina Sanchez’s “Rated K” of ABS-CBN.
I have known Nina for several years. She is the daughter of Manang Salud Ompoc Mabatid, younger sister of the late radio commentator, Atty. David Ompoc, an anti-martial law crusader. Manang Salud, who is one of my loyal radio listeners for several decades, raised Nina and her other siblings in Sitio Riverside, Mabolo. Nagdako ni si Nina sa kilid sa sapa. Malunupan pa gani ang ilang balay sa una. Nina’s success story is one for the books.
Nina was promised support by the BOPK. She and the “former political has-been” were close friends. It was him who prodded her to run because former barangay captain Rey Ompoc’s term would expire. Ompoc is a staunch supporter of BOPK.
Nina supported the “former political has-been’s” candidacy in the past elections. Without his knowledge, she produced radio commercials for him and printed leaflets, flyers and tarpaulins during elections. When the “former political has-been” was down and depressed after he lost to Mike Rama, Nina was there to encourage him. She would invite him to parties and socials.
But during the campaign period, Nina was shocked after learning that the person who promised her full support had endorsed her rival, Atty. Daniel Arguedo. Isn’t that a betrayal? She felt she was stabbed in the back by her “political mentor.” If you were in her shoes, how would you feel? That’s one of the reasons she did not invite the “former political has-been” during her victory party. Kamo bay ing-anaon?
From what I gathered, Nina will be an independent candidate for the ABC elections. She will not affiliate with the opposition. Well, I don’t know if she has a “modus viviende” (arrangement/agreement) with the opposition, but sources said the opposition is still committed to support the reelection bid of ABC President Philip Zafra. It’s an uphill battle for Nina considering that she is new in politics and her opponent has a well-entrenched connection with the powers that be. Ong is a campaign-fund contributor of the BOPK and is doing business with City Hall like the garbage collection. He owns Pasajero Motors.
But like her real life success story on how she struggled to fight poverty, I think Nina can do it if those principled barangay captains-elect will also support her.