FAR from building up the PDP-Laban in the third congressional district of the Province of Cebu, Tuburan Mayor Aljun Diamante may be trying to sabotage the party’s existing formidable organization in the district.
PDP-Laban has mayors in five out of the six municipalities (Barili, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, Balamban, and Asturias) and an alliance with the mayor of the lone city in the district (Toledo).
In the barangay level, the One Cebu-PDP-Laban group can count on the support of at least 70 percent of the district’s 230 barangays: 32 of the 42 barangays in Barili, 14 out of the 15 in Aloguinsan, 22 out of the 26 in Pinamungajan, 30 out of the 38 in Toledo City, all of the 28 barangays in Balamban, 21 out of the 26 in Asturias and 14 out of the 54 in Tuburan.
Despite this, Diamante called Liberal Party leaders in some towns to a meeting and membership seminar, when the leaders are former and future opponents of the existing PDP-Laban mayors and allies. Which is which? Is he working for the party or against it? He cannot have it both ways.
It is impossible, for instance, for the Yaphas to join the same party as Mayor Glenn Baricuatro in Pinamungajan or, at this point, Mayor John Henry Osmeña in Toledo. Diamante’s recent actions are either not politically astute or downright divisive.
What is his agenda? Is he trying to sow discord and confusion among the ranks of PDP-Laban? Does it have something to do with the fact that Gov. Hilario Davide III, who is a Liberal Party official, has expressed his support for Diamante’s candidacy?
I find it “suspicious” that, after claiming to be working for PDP-Laban, Diamante then came out with a statement that he was working to form his own local party in the district.
What makes Diamante’s moves more questionable is that they are not being done in coordination with, but behind the back of the party’s third district president, Rep. Gwen Garcia.
PDP-Laban officials in the Province of Cebu, particularly President Jojo Dizon, should be careful about these maneuvers from recent defectors from the Liberal Party.--former congressman Pablo John “PJ” Garcia
On the death of the Ermita kid
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Chief Royina Garma is new in her office but she is already making so much noise. We just hope that the noise would be good for the city.
On the death of the four-year-old boy during an anti-illegal drugs operation in Barangay Ermita, Garma has been defending her people even before the investigation could go full speed ahead.
She is puttung the cart before the horse.
What she should have done is not to comment too much before all the facts are in. That’s what fairness dictates and so the child and the parents would get the justice they deserve.
Knowing who owns the gun from where the bullet that killed the child was fired is not just a matter of testimony by witnesses but is also the work of the crime lab.--Dean Eliud Desirlo