Labella unfazed by BOPK’s win

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said that Team Rama is not worried that only 31 of their allies won in the barangay polls while 49 are allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Labella said that since majority of the barangay captains are BOPK allies, they may have secure presidency of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).

“I think they have the majority, it’s important in the voting of the ABC,” he said.

In an unofficial report from the Barangay Affairs Office, 49 barangay captains who are known allies of BOPK won in last Monday’s barangay elections while Team Rama, to which Labella belongs, only has 31.

The newly elected barangay captain of Mambaling, lawyer Genis Abellana, clarified, though, that he ran as an independent candidate and not under Team Rama.

Since the election is over, Labella said they have to respect the decision of the people.

As for the pronouncement of Osmeña that there are some barangay captains from Team Rama who are sending feelers to defect to BOPK, Labella is certain it will not happen.

“I don’t think there will be movements from our side. Nakasabot sila sa situation. In order for democracy to work, there should be an opposition,” he said.

Meanwhile, teachers in Mandaue City who served in last Monday’s elections can start getting their honorarium this week, assistant election officer Jacqueline Reuyan said yesterday.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Mandaue focused on Wednesday morning on requirements for the release of the honoraria for 1,671 teachers who served on the Boards of Election Tellers (BET) in the village and youth council elections.

The poll body was set to release the cash cards for teachers who served in Alang-Alang, Bakilid, Banilad, and Basak from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Poll clerks and the third member of the BET will get P6,000, while the chair will get P7,000. The supervising principal will get P5,000, while the support staff is entitled to P3,000. / RVC, JPP