IMOK’S DAUGHTER TAKES OATH AS COUNCILWOMAN
Efe Rupinta replaces Mark Rizaldy Miral, who has assumed as Ermita chief
It may have been a month since slain Cebu City Ermita village chief Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta left his constituents, but his legacy will live on.
His daughter, Efe Rupinta, took oath yesterday as a barangay councilwoman of Ermita.
The 25-year-old woman will be filling in the post left by Mark Rizaldy Miral, who assumed office last month as the new barangay captain, following Imok’s death.
In an interview after the oathtaking ceremony, Efe said it took her a while to take on the responsi-
Ang gusto nako ipadayon kay ang paghatag og tingug sa mga kabus ug mga vendors kay mao gyud na ang tinguha sa akong papa. EFE RUPINTA
bilities of a new councilwoman as she had reservations about entering politics.
“Dugay gyud ko naka-decide kay nagtuo ko nga ang politiko, dili ni siya sayon-sayon lang ba. Labi na sa nahitabo sa akong amahan, di siya sayon nga diha-diha dawaton lang dayon (It took me time to decide because I think politics isn’t something you can take lightly. I also had to deal with what happened to my father),” she said.
Despite initial hesitations, Efe assured that she will be performing her duties as barangay councilor to the best of her abilities.
She said she takes inspiration from her father, who always made his constituents his priority.
With this, the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration graduate said that she wants to handle the market affairs of Ermita and work with the vendors.
Her father was the founder of the Cebu City United Vendors Association, the largest vendors’ federation in the city with over 5,000 members.
“Ang gusto nako ipadayon kay ang paghatag og tingug sa mga kabus ug mga vendors kay mao gyud na ang tinguha sa akong papa,” she said.
A former Sangguniang Kabataan chairman from 2007 to 2010, Efe said she also wants to focus on developing the youth.
The youngest child from Imok’s first marriage, Efe said that her age will not be a hindrance to her promise of delivering quality service to constituents.
In a separate interview, Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella, who officiated the oathtaking ceremony, said Efe’s assumption as councilor would help the young people in Ermita have representation.
“Dako kaayo nga importansya labi na nga Ermita is perceived to be drug-infested. Makatabang gyud ni kay ang mga batan-on will have a big say in the fight against illegal drugs,” he said.
The ceremony was also attended by the entire Ermita barangay council led by Miral, Efe’s mother and Barug Team Rama Councilors Joel Garganera, Raymond Garcia and Pastor Alcover Jr.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 7 Director Jose Mario Espino said the criminal charges against the mastermind behind Rupinta’s death may be filed before the year ends.
Two of the four alleged gunmen-Jimmy Largo and Jordan Gera-were caught and detained in a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility after their cases were filed in court.
The suspects denied their participation in the murder of Rupinta, who was driving his pick-up truck with his common-law wife as his passenger when the attack happened while he was traveling toward his home in Liloan town last Nov. 23. Largo and Gera were caught by the Regional Special Operations Group led by Supt. Reynaldo Magdaluyo, who was relieved last week. Espino said the investigation on Rupinta’s case will not be affected after Magdaluyo’s transfer. /