Zafra may withdraw reelection bid
Tisa village chief Phillip Zafra admitted the possibility of withdrawing his bid for reelection as president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Cebu City, saying his group does not have the number.
Record shows that there are 26 village chiefs under Barug Team Rama PDP-Laban while 50 are allied with Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
“Yes, that's one of the options considering nga lagi wala ta'y numero. We just have to be realistic of the fact nga maghisgot ta og ABC election, it will always be a numbers game,” Zafra said.
But he clarified his group has yet to finalize the matter. Mabolo barangay captain Prisca Niña Mabatid, who has openly expressed her plan to run for ABC president, admitted that she has met with Zafra and they discussed the upcoming ABC elections.
Mabatid revealed there are barangay captains affiliated with BOPK and Barug Team Rama PDP Laban who have expressed support for her should she decide to run for ABC president.
“Sila mismo, kanang nagpakita sila og support gyud nga they really want me to run, they want me to be their candidate which nalipay sad ko naay mga kapitan nga mounong nako,” Mabatid said.
Mabatid revealed that lawyer Gines Abellana, the newly elected Mambaling barangay captain, an independent official, is among the village chiefs who expressed support for her.
Mabatid, however, refused to divulge the names of the other barangay captains. She also admitted she has yet to make a final decision whether she will run for ABC president. The election is on July 30.
She said the support she is gaining is one of the factors that she is considering in making a decision.
Mabatid, who was ousted from BOPK, is endorsed by the Office of the President to run for the position.
“Yes, naa man gyu'y mga kapitan nga naay kaugalingong baruganan ba although some of the barangay captains of BOPK expressed their desire to vote for me pero hadlok lang gyud sila ni Mayor Tom kay ang mahitabo man gud if mo -openly vote sila or openly support sila nako, there is a big possibility nga i-BMO (Barangay Mayor's Office) sila ni Mayor Tommy,” she said.
At the press conference, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will disown barangay captains who will vote for Mabatid.
Once she decides to run, Mabatid will form her own slate, saying there are already barangay captains who showed interest to be part of her group.
“We will be an independent group. We will not be carrying any political party and this is a good sign that unifying all of them is possible. Mag-unify mi tanan ba regardless of political affiliation because that is what supposed to be ABC,” Mabatid added.
Mabatid said she has no plans of joining PDP-Laban or Barug Team Rama. At present, she is an independent barangay official.
Last June 18, Tomas kicked out Mabatid from BOPK because of her intention to run for ABC president against Kasambagan barangay captain Franklyn Ong, BOPK's bet.