FOLLOWING reports of a three-pronged Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) presidential race, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has alienated Mabolo barangay captain-elect Niña Mabatid from Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
The mayor’s pronouncement yesterday morning came a day after Mabatid admitted that she was asked by the Office of the President to run for ABC head.
“Because of the circumstances, yes, I am making a decision. Normally, I don’t make a decision until I can make a decision. But because of this development, I’ve made my decision. It’s (reelected Kasamabagan Barangay Captain) Franklyn Ong. If you’re not for Franklyn Ong, you’re not for BOPK,” he told reporters.
Ong will be vying for the position against the opposition’s bet, outgoing ABC president Phillip Zafra (reelected Tisa barangay captain) on Aug. 20.
The candidate who will be elected as ABC head will sit as an ex-officio member of the City Council.
“Ong was an aspirant and he was the leading contender. The point has reached where I had to make a decision. I will never forget that it’s the people of Cebu that elected me, so I’m not king. But within our group, that’s where I stand. I’m not going into details, basta that is my decision,” Osmeña said.
The mayor added that he welcomes other candidates for the position, but Ong has his confidence.
Mabatid, for her part, said she will not jump ship and join the opposition despite the development.
“Maybe in due time, I will talk with the mayor. Maybe there is a reason behind. But at least, he cannot say that I’m a betrayer, that I defected. But if he says that I’m no longer part of the group, I will respect his decision. But it will never happen that I will join Team Rama,” she said in Cebuano.
Mabatid also reiterated that she still has yet to finalize her decision on the ABC presidential bid.
In a related development, Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Monalila Tecson dismissed the election protest filed against Mabatid because it was insufficient in form and substance.
Mabatid was accused of mass vote-buying during the May 14 elections by Daniel Francis Arguedo, among others, in an election protest filed in court last May 24.
Mabatid posted a copy of the court decision in her Facebook account yesterday.