CEBU, Philippines - Support for the “Noy-Mar” tandem is gaining more strength in Cebu as Lapu-Lapu City mayoralty aspirant Efrain Pelaez and his group yesterday announced their support for the tandem.
The support came in a few days after the Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan, a local party headed by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, also announced their support of the tandem.
Pelaez, who has been exposing alleged anomalies against the current administration of Lapu-Lapu City, said that they are supporting the Noy-Mar tandem in the name of transparency and good government.
Pelaez group is dubbed as Kalihokan sa Katawhan alang sa Kalamboan or KKK, which was also officially launched yesterday.
He was with some of his councilorial slate and several supporters.
He said that the country needs change in our political system which is laden with corruption including the city of Lapu-Lapu.
Pelaez said that their group is not supporting the Noy-Mar tandem just because they want something in return but they just want a clean and honest government.
“Dili na angay nga magpadayon ang administrasyon ni Radaza. We can’t take it anymore. We have to stand up against corruption,” Pelaez said.
The group of Pelaez lambasted Mayor Arturo Radaza as the cause on the very slow progress of the city as well as the alleged failure of the mayor to deliver the basic services to constituents.
“Pwerte na gyong ngil-ara sa sistema nganha sa Lapu-Lapu. Kinahanglan na gyod ang pag-usab sa sistema,” said lawyer Silvino Maceren, one of the group’s five candidates. Maceren is eyeing the congressional seat in Lapu-Lapu.
President Gloria Arroyo, the other day, signed into law the creation of Cebu’s 7th district which is Lapu-Lapu City.
Lapu-Lapu used to belong to the sixth district which comprises Mandaue City and the towns of Consolacion and Cordova.
Former Councilor Tony Dingkong said that the Radaza administration neglected the plight of the children in the said city wherein “several of them are engaged in scavenging.”
Maceren further said that the City Hall of Lapu-Lapu is loaded with consultants, mostly lawyers who are receiving a monthly salary of P15,000 or a total of about P6 million per month.
“Pwerteng daghana og consultants. Unya migasto ang siyudad ana og P6 million kada buwan para sweldo. Ang kadalanan pwerteng huota. Ang hospital walay tambal,” Maceren accused.
Meanwhile, Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar said that he will support all the candidates of the BOPK for mayor, vice mayor, councilors and congressmen.
“I will answer questions regarding the national candidates at the start of the campaign period since that’s a long way off yet and there might be changes between now and then,” says del Mar, Cebu City district chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
Del Mar’s daughter, Rachel who is more known for her moniker “Cutie” will be running for Congress replacing his father, who is now serving on his last term.
Cutie in a separate interview yesterday after a meeting with the different barangay captains in the north district said that as far as she is concerned, she is affiliated with the BOPK.
“I am a BOPK and since BOPK supports LP, then I will support the LP candidates,” Cutie said.
Rep. del Mar on the other hand said that he will just finish his legislative works and will just make an announcement at the start of the campaign period.
“As of now, there is no conflict. Cutie is free to decide on her own,” del Mar said.
Osmeña, on the other hand, said that even if del Mar is affiliated with Lakas-Kampi-CMD, he is still going to support Cutie’s candidacy. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)