Sworn in yesterday: All Tuburan brgy execs now allies

CEBU, Philippines - All barangay officials in Tuburan town now wore the signature color of ruling Liberal Party after they swore allegiance to the party yesterday.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, LP Cebu leader, administered the oath to the 540 officials of Tuburan’s 54 barangays in a ceremony at the residence of Mayor Democrito Diamante.

Senator Teofisto Guingona III, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, and LP senatorial bets Mark Lapid, Jericho Petilla, and Risa Hontiveros were present during the oath-taking.  League of the Municipalities in the Philippines national president Leonardo “Sandy” Javier was also there.

The ceremony coincided with the 49th birthday of Diamante, who also sits as LMP-Cebu president.

With the move of his town’s barangay officials, Diamante hoped that it would prove as an advantage to LP local national candidates in his town come the 2016 elections.

Diamante is currently serving his second term as mayor.

He recounted that he only had 10 allied barangay captains when he ran in the 2010 elections and won by 2,735 votes. In the 2013 elections, he was able to retain his seat with 42 allied barangay captains and a vote advantage of 6,735.

“Syaro karon nga di ko kadaog nga ako na tanang barangays,” he told reporters.

He said he would no longer run for a public post once he is given the chance to continue his last term, saying what he had done was already enough.

He mentioned his school projects as among his major accomplishments. Diamante said he was able to establish during his first term three national high schools located in barangays Kalangahan, Kabangkalan, and Kansi.

The lot where the schools are in Kabangkalan and Kalangahan was donated by his family.

During the program, the national candidates also delivered messages and cited their own accomplishments.

Re-electionist Guingona asked the barangay officials’s support for all LP aspirants so the current administration’s programs and projects, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, would continue.

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, who is with the opposition United Nationalist Alliance party, was also present during the event. Diamante identified him as a close friend.

Francis Tolentino, independent senatorial aspirant, was also supposedly among Diamante’s guests but the former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief opted to meet the mayor before the ceremony due to another commitment.  (FREEMAN)