THE reelection bid of Mayor Crisostomo Garbo in the next political exercise just got even better as all incumbent councilors and known principal allies of the former administration have joined the Garbo-Aquino team, making it more formidable in the May 2022 elections.
Leading the team who joined Team MCG in last week’s filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) were Marjorie Morales-Sambo, daughter of former Mayor Marino Morales, re-electionist Councilors Noel Castro, Timothy Dee and Jerry Magsino who won in the 2019 elections under the slate of Halili-Morales Team.
Morales-Sambo, now an ex-officio councilor as the incumbent Liga ng mga Barangay president, said during a media interview that she chose to join Team MCG because of accomplishments of the Garbo administration.
“Naka-commit na kami kay Mayor Garbo noon pa man at nakita naman natin ang serbisyo ni Mayor Garbo. Napakaganda ng mga programa niya. Napakagaling ng pamumuno ni Mayor Garbo at nakikita naman natin lahat ng ginawa niya para sa lahat ng mga Mabalaqueño. Saan pa ba ako pupunta? Saan ba kayo pupunta?” said Sambo.
Castro, on the other hand, served as campaign manager of Halili in 2019. He is the first cousin of former vice mayor Christian Halili who has paired once again with Morales to seek their old posts as vice mayor and mayor, respectively. Both of them lost to Garbo and Aquino by over 20,000 votes.
“Nag-usap kami [Christian Halili]. Malinaw ang usap namin, ganon. All of a sudden, nagdeclare sila na tatakbo sila kasama si Mayor Boking at siya ang running-mate niya. So, ayoko naman masyadong bigyan ng kulay pero ako kasi kapag nakicommit ako sa tao, tulad nitong sa MCG, syempre, ang full support ko sa MCG. Hindi pwedeng magkaroon ng mental reservation dito,” Castro said in an interview.
“Vice Mayor Geld’s performance is good. Nakasama namin siya 3 years na. Nandiyan ‘yung marubdob niyang pagseserbisyo sa mga tao, nandiyan ang kaniyang kasipagan, ang kaniyang advocacy to assist and help our constituents. Wala akong masabi kundi maganda,” Castro added.
Also joining them is public service veteran and widely known environmentalist Rox Peña, who is making a comeback after completing three terms in 2019. Peña served nine straight years under the former mayor’s administration.
“Boking never said [that] he will run for mayor until the last minute so I committed myself to Mayor Garbo. And because I saw the programs of Mayor Garbo which were not there in my nine years as councilor,” Peña stated in a text message.
Garbo’s slate earned the support of Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda and are running under the province’s ruling Kambilan Party.
“Masaya po tayo dahil ang atin pong line-up sa Team MCG ay binubuo po ng mga incumbent city officials maging ng mga public servants na nanilbihan na noon para sa ating mahal na siyudad sa loob ng maraming taon,” said Garbo.
“Nais po nating ipakita na ano mang kulay mo sa pulitika ay aakapin ka ng Team MCG lalo na kung kaisa ka sa pagtataguyod ng ating hangarin na isulong ang isang Bayung Mabalacat,” the mayor added.
Joining Sambo, Castro, Dee, Peña and Magsino in the Team MCG slate are re-electionist councilors Dr. Cocoy Tiglao, Jun Castro, Carlo Dizon, Liza Pineda. No longer in the slate is Winwin Garbo who is seeking a seat in the Provincial Board. In her place is Cherry Manalo who completes three terms as board member. (PR)