BOPK captains get laptops; Ong denies it’s bribery

Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City Captain Franklyn Ong has admitted giving laptops to his fellow barangay captains in Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) but denied he did so to bribe them into voting for him in Monday’s Association of Barangay Councils elections.

Ong is running for ABC president against Barangay Mabolo Captain Prisca Niña Mabatid.

Ong did not disclose specifics about the computers except to say that these are “quality laptops” and all 50 BOPK allied barangay captains were given.

He said he gave the laptops because he treats his allies as family. He also argued that to bribe them will not make any sense because they are already allies in the first place.

With 51 of the 80 barangay captains in Cebu City allied with BOPK, Ong is confident he will get the numbers come election day.

“I gave laptop because when I went around, I saw that there are so many problems and that is my way of helping them… Nganong mangamang man ko sa akong kaugalingong kauban, oy? It doesn’t make sense. It’s illogical,” he said.

Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Joel Garganera of Barug Team Rama PDP-Laban said, though, that the buying of laptops can constitute vote buying.

“All of the allegations against Kapitan Mabatid were not substantiated. Whereas, ang alleged vote-buying nga gihimo ni Franklyn Ong, nga nanghatag og laptop, klaro kaayo,” Garcia said.

Mabatid has been accused of offering money to barangay captains in exchange for votes.

Garganera said even Mayor Tomas Osmeña dangled a P1 million assistance to the Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen during the SK Federation elections last month.

“So kinsa man ang nagvote buying? That’s vote buying,” Garganera said.

Mabatid has denied offering money to barangay captains but said she will assist them in getting projects that will be funded by the national government.

Mabatid said 12 BOPK allied barangay captains have reportedly committed to vote for her on Monday but Ong also said Mabatid’s allies reportedly told him they would vote for him instead.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Whoever wins as ABC president will sit as exofficio member of the City Council.

As of now, the opposition enjoys a slim majority as Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who presides over the session, will break the 9-9 deadlock.

If Ong wins, BOPK will get back the majority in the Council with 10 members while the opposition, excluding Labella, will have eight.

If Mabatid wins, however, the numbers will remain 9-9.