FOR ABC PRESIDENT Ong vs Mabatid
When Cebu City's 80 barangay captains convene Monday to vote for their president, they will have two options: Kasambagan's Franklin Ong or Mabolo's Prisca Niña Mabatid.
The last count from the camp of Mayor Tomas Osmeña's Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) showed that Ong may enjoy the support of 51 village chiefs.
But make no mistake. Mabatid, who formally filed her candidacy yesterday after weeks of indecision, expressed confidence that she now has "the numbers" to win.
To note, her candidacy has been endorsed earlier by the opposition party, the Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban, including Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella. She also claimed being endorsed by the Office of the President.
"I need 12 barangay captains (from BOPK) for me to win ABC but I will not decide to run if I don't have the numbers, so it means to say that I have the numbers already," Mabatid told reporters.
She, however, refused to name the BOPK allies who have promised to support her ABC bid out of fear Osmeña will get back at them.
"For the other barangay captains, I cannot afford nga i-BMO (Barangay Mayor's Office) sila because their greatest fear is Mayor Tommy. Hadlok gyud kaayo sila nga bawian sila og basic services, hadlok kaayo sila nga mawagtangan og suporta sa city because not all barangay captains are well-off. They don't have personal money to sustain the needs of their barangays," Mabatid said.
She said she's praying the mayor would "stop dictating" these village chiefs because the ABC is supposed to be for barangay captains only.
Mabatid's lineup includes Gines Abellana (Mambaling) for vice president and Ronnie Saba (Barrio Luz) for auditor. Members of the board are Lourdes Ramirez (Sto. Niño) and Dante Tabucal (Sinsin).
NO MONEY INVOLVED
Mabatid emphasized she did not offer money to BOPK barangay captains who have thrown their support to her secretly.
What she promised them, she said, are projects funded by the national government.
She also said she wants to unify the barangay captains amid differences in party affiliation.
"I will be providing healthcare for the barangay captains to ensure that they will be given the privilege to enjoy hospitalization for free in a private hospital… I want authentic governance to be felt by us not by any political party," Mabatid said.
Mabatid alleged it was Ong who has given cash to captains.
"They are the ones doing it. They've been doing it from the start," she said. "Ako mismo, nakadawat og P5,000 from him, the first time I attended the meeting kay during that time, BOPK pa man ko and everytime naa'y meeting, sila ang magsige panghatag og kwarta and laptop nga gipanghatag sa mga barangay captains."
Ong, who filed his candidacy one day ahead of Mabatid, denied this accusation saying he will not resort to vote-buying knowing they have the majority.
DICTATORSHIP?
Just like Mabatid, Abellana said they can't have a personal voice under the roof of BOPK. This is the reason why he is supporting the Mabolo chief.
"Nisulti si Tom Osmeña nga kanang si Niña is taken out from BOPK because she is running against his chosen candidate. So I asked him, 'Mayor, are you not happy? Niña is BOPK, Franklyn Ong is BOPK. If the two are the surest candidate to win, you must be happy because they are both BOPK.' The next thing I knew, I was bolted out (of Osmeña's party)," he said.
Labella, for his part, said he was grateful that Mabatid has officially decided to run for ABC.
"I am glad that she finally decided to file the certificate of candidacy. I came here purposely to wish her luck and, of course, other candidates of her group… I am impressed before she became barangay official, she has given help to some of our barangays," he said.
At a press conference yesterday, Osmeña did not give a direct answer when reporters asked if he thought Mabatid was a threat to his party.
But he did not mince his words for BOPK barangay captains who will vote for her, warning them that they will not get preference in the programs and projects of the city.
"I don't know, akong unahon ang akong mga tawo, that's simple as that. I will give preference treatment to those who are supporting with me," Osmeña said.
Osmeña also said he had talked to barangay captains and told them to pick Ong.
CRUCIAL VOTE
Whoever wins between Ong and Mabatid automatically earns a spot at the City Council.
The council composition at the moment is 98, in favor of BOPK.
BOPK councilors are Margarita Osmeña, Sisinio Andales, Joy Augustus Young, Jerry Guardo, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Alvin Arcilla, David Tumulak, Mary Ann Delos Santos, and ex-officio member Jessica Resch, who is president of the SK Federation.
The opposition includes Jocelyn Pesquera, Eduardo Rama Jr., Pastor "Jun" Alcover Jr., Jose Daluz III, Joel Garganera, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Renato "Junjun" Osmeña Jr., and newly-appointed councilor, Erik Espina.
If Ong will be elected, BOPK will still enjoy majority, 10-8. But if Mabatid will, the council will be on a deadlock, 99.
Under council rules, the presiding officer breaks the tie, in this case, Vice Mayor Labella, who is with the opposition. —