Big names gun for ABC federation in province
Prominent political families Salimbangon and Martinez in northern Cebu are set to take their political battle to the Capitol come election of the Federation of the Association of Barangay Councils (FABC) in the provincial level.
One of the Calderons in the south is also eyeing the position of president at FABC, also known as the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB).
The FABC president sits as ex-officio member of the Provincial Board. The three of them run unopposed in the recently concluded Barangay Elections in their respective barangays.
Incumbent FABC President, Board Member Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, was reelected as barangay captain of Cayang, Bogo City.
ABC presidents from seven component cities and 44 municipalities – except Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City – will elect the new president and other officers of FABC.
Edwin Salimbangon, the younger brother of Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, is the newly elected barangay captain of Curva, Medellin while former Samboan mayor Raymond Joseph Calderon is the newly elected barangay captain of Poblacion.
Edwin said he is eyeing the position of president in Medellin and will subsequently challenge Martinez in the provincial level.
Martinez won in his 2007 election protest against Benhur in the Supreme Court just a month before the 2010 elections resulting to the nullity of the latter's first term.
In the 2010 and 2013 elections, Martinez lost to Salimbangon in the congressional race. Martinez was elected as barangay captain of Cayang, Bogo City in the October 2013 Barangay Election and as city's ABC president, which led his election as FABC president of the province up to present.
In 2016, Tining's father, former congressman and former mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr., also lost to Salimbangon who is now in his last term as congressman.
While he is the ABC president of Samboan, Calderon is also eyeing the FABC post.
“All options are open,” Calderon said.
Calderon, brother of Seventh District Rep. Peter John Calderon, completed his three terms in 2016 and he was replaced by his father, former assemblymen Emerito Calderon as the town's mayor.
In the 2016 elections, Emerito was the town's ABC president and the FABC vice president under Martinez.
Basak, Samboan Barangay Captain Sally Bilocura assumed Emerito's position in the ABC.
The Salimbangons are allied with the National Unity Party (NUP) while the Martinezes and the Calderons are allied with the Liberal Party in the 2016 elections.
Representatives Salimbangon and Calderon have taken their oath as members of ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of President Rodrigo Duterte.