DURANOS CHALLENGED
Bakud’s Rep. Red Durano VI will be facing Duke Frasco, who was endorsed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio Reelectionist 5th District Rep. Red says the Duranoled local party has never been dependent on outside endorsements Bakud presented its lineu
For two decades, the Duranos have lorded over the fifth district of Cebu. Whoever the Bakud (Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasiya) party fields in the fifth district, usually wins. And the party’s clout has even reached other parts of Cebu-Rep. Peter John Calderon (7th district) is a Durano. His mother, Beatriz, is the sister of Ramon “Nito” Durano III, the Durano patriarch. Of course, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, is the second highest-ranking official in Cebu.
But there is a new threat looming over the Duranos’ reign-the Dutertes, who also happen to be their relatives.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, founded her own regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP). Local Cebu parties have been scrambling to get an alliance with Carpio’s party.
And while Carpio has announced that she will not endorse a gubernatorial candidate in Cebu, trusting the Cebuanos to make their own decision, she did endorse Cebu Port Authority Commissioner Vincent “Duke” Frasco for fifth district congressman. Frasco is running against Bakud’s Ramon “Red” Durano VI. But Red said he is not worried. Frasco, the former Liloan mayor, is the son-in-law of Rep. Gwen Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district), who is running for governor against Magpale.
Magpale’s grandmother is the sister of Nito’s father.
Red said Bakud has never been dependent on endorsements.
“In fact, kita maoy panuolon sa mga pulitiko kay in the past we’ve shown that we are united here in the fifth district and kinsay suportaan nato nga mga kandidato, mao gyuy dumadaug (In fact, the politicians approach us because in the past, we’ve shown that we are united in the fifth district. Whoever we support always wins. A lot of politicians can attest to that,” the sitting congressman and provincial chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) said.
Red said this following the signing of an alliance agreement between NPC and Bakud last Saturday, Oct. 27. The two were also allies in the 2016 elections. Former tourism secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano was the campaign manager of the tandem of Senator Poe and Sen. Francis Escudero when they ran for the country’s top two positions in 2016.
Present during the formality of their alliance were Nito, Bakud’s chairman emeritus; Ace, Bakud’s new president; Red; and Jose Thaddeus Roble Jr., Bakud’s secretary-general.
Magpale and Gov. Hilario Davide III were there to witness the continuing alliance. NPC and Bakud are also endorsing the tandem for governor and vice governor of Cebu.
Based on the alliance, Bakud will support NPC’s lineup for senator.
In return, Poe said, she will support Magpale, the vice president of Bakud, and Davide, who remains with the Liberal Party.
Red also explained the confusion on the supposed alliance with HNP.
When Carpio was in Cebu last week, she denied there was an alliance between Bakud and HNP.
Red explained that he was made to believe that NPC and HNP have an alliance. And since Bakud and NPC have always been allied, he thought that an alliance between Bakud and HNP was a given.
“But we were led to believe that it was okay already and wala na lang sa ta mo-follow up because, of course, our alliance is dependent with the alliance of NPC,” said Red.
So are they going to follow it up?
“Well, between now and the elections, anything can happen. It’s still seven months away. Dili ko katubag ngano kay ako (I can’t say why because), I course through our interest of allying with Hugpong through NPC. Diha ra kutob (That’s where it ends),” Red continued. “But for me, it doesn’t matter, kay kita dinhi sa Bakud (because Bakud) as a local party, we are very strong.”