Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman “promised” Councilor Allan Majait that the latter would be his successor. They are both last-termers.
Allan, a dySS Super Radyo anchor and reporter, worked hand in hand with and supported Ramil’s vision for the barangay. Their friendship started when they were neophyte reporters of dyMF Bombo Radyo in the early ‘90s. Ramil resigned to join ABS-CBN Cebu. I got Allan as one of my reportorial staff when I accepted the offer of Radio GMA (RGMA) to be the program director and chief operations officer of dySS Super Radyo Cebu in 1997.
But now Ramil and Allan’s friendship and political alliance could be in jeopardy because the former “negated” his promise. Maybe out of personal interest or the intervention of a political party that is trying to control the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
You know what? Ramil is fielding his wife Alfie to be his successor. Maybe Ramil thinks his wife can do a better job of continuing his “unfinished business.” Maybe he thinks that it would be easy for him to control and influence his wife in running the affairs of the barangay. That is the personal aspect.
As for the political aspect, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, in alliance with the Barug PDP-Laban headed by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, has been poking his fingers in the selection of candidates for barangay captain. The group wants to control results of the elections. They want strong candidates to topple the local administration’s political machinery. We already know the relationship between Dino and the “tyrant” sitting at City Hall.
Dino called Allan and dissuaded him from running for barangay captain because the voters of Apas will be divided with Alfie also aiming for the same position. The group also claimed they conducted a survey, which shows Allan’s “poor ratings.” I know Dino will favor Ramil because he is close to the barangay captain. Dino used Ramil as his proxy in his fight against the “former political has-been.” Remember those cases Ramil filed against the “former political has-been”? Those were initiated by Dino. Ramil is always seen by Dino’s side during political activities.
Poor Allan. He is now left in dark on what to do. He is contemplating backing out. “Nahi-ubos lang ko, Boss,” he told me. Had Ramil and Allan been left to decide on their own, maybe they would have come up with a “gentleman’s agreement.”
Now, who said that barangay and SK elections are non-partisan? We cannot also blame Dino’s group for allegedly intervening in the forthcoming elections because the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) is doing the same. Away man gihapon ni sa Barug-PDP-Laban ug BOPK.
This is a classic example of how local politics destroys friendships and relationships. Because of political maneuvering and the personal agenda of each politician, many relationships have been shattered. This is especially true in barangay elections, where opposing candidates and the voters know each other and some are even close relatives.
I can see the same scenario in next year’s local elections when “has-been” mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella will slug it out for the mayoral race together with the incumbent mayor. As of now, Rama and Labella are still considered political allies. But Labella has the support of the majority, including Dino. He is considered to be the “best bet.” Some of their allies have “abandoned” Rama because of his “extra baggage.”
Mike has been named by President Duterte as a drug protector. What will happen if Mike decides to attempt a comeback because he is really passionate about the position? Another friendship will be shattered. This is the sad reality in politics. Politics is treacherous.