ZAFRA INVITED TO JOIN BOPK, DECLINES OFFER

The ABC president said he received feelers from BOPK to join them for a while now.

The Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) continues to woo Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Cebu City President Philip Zafra to jump ship but the latter said he will remain a member of Barug Team Rama.

“There is really no chance of me shifting party loyalty. But I would like to assure the mayor and public that I am here for the City of Cebu,” Zafra said.

His pronouncement came as a response to Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s admission that BOPK has considered inviting some members of the opposition to join their group.

The mayor said yesterday that they’re interested in getting a Barug Team Rama councilor to join them so that the tables at the City Council will turn in their favor.

“We’re tempted to get one more, just to break the balance. He (Zafra) may be one of those, I don’t know. I don’t like to discuss these matters because wer’e not going to show our plan. But of course, were interested in getting one more,” Osmeña said.

At present, the administration and opposition each have eight councilors. The council’s presiding officer, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, is a member of the opposition.

“They’re blocking our programs, so I feel obligated to see any way where we can implement our programs,” Osmeña said.

The Tisa village cheif told re- porters that he has been receiving feelers from BOPK personalities for awhile now.

Although he declined from naming these personalities, Zafra said they have been asking him to give it time and talk with BOPK’s key people, including the mayor.

The offers, however, were “politely turned down,” said Zafra.

Sought for comment, former mayor Michael Rama said he doesn’t see anyone from their allies leaving the group soon.

“They are firm on their respective principles, although there is really no 100 percent guarantee. For Zafra, I don’t see him as a traitor and I don’t want to see the possibility of him leaving,” he said. /