Magpale: Compostela still a BAKUD stronghold

CEBU, Philippines — Not a single claim can weaken the stronghold of Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) party in Compostela, Cebu, so said reelectionist 5th District Provincial Board Member Miguel Antonio Magpale.

Magpale asserted that Compostela is still a BAKUD stronghold.

“I firmly believe that Compostela will still deliver for BAKUD… As to the mayors and vice mayors, we firmly know that BAKUD is firmly solid,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

He made the remark following the vow of alliance of Compostela town Councilor Jury Quiño to One Cebu for the May 13 elections.

Magpale believed there was a miscommunication because it was not the brother or Compostela Mayor Joel Quiño who switched loyalty to another party.

“It (report) did not create damage at all but it only created a certain degree of confusion. A few contacted the officers of BAKUD. I also received text messages and calls from allies and supporters and I have to explain to them that it was not how it happened,” he said.

“The (Quiño) brothers had differences so it was no surprise for us that he (Jury) transferred. Jury decided to take a different path but Mayor Joel has continued to stay with BAKUD,” he further explained.

He said the reported transfer did not affect the integrity of the incumbent mayor, and neither will it affect the “strength and durability” of BAKUD party in the town and in the district since the elective members had been very active in their political career.

Magpale also dismissed rumors that other current allies might transfer from BAKUD to One Cebu.

“However, those allies or so-called allies that we believe right from the start are not tight with BAKUD, we know who they are, we already prepared ourselves and we have contingency plans for those transfers,” he said.

Moreover, Magpale lamented that there are other politicians or aspirants that had to resort to other tactics to confuse people.

“Well, this is politics. We are on the heat of battle now with sixty days to go before elections. We expect more of these things to happen but we are ready. BAKUD is ready for all this malicious misinformation,” he said.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III also disclosed that he heard “feedbacks” or unverified reports that other camps are using “dirty” schemes to their advantage.

“There were feedbacks nga naa’y attempts really to court our allies sa grupo sa pikas either by threatening them with cases… or hudlaton atong mga allies. We expect that already. Kani sila desperado naman gud ni sila… they are desperate to win,” he said.

Davide is still confident that the party of Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, who takes his position for the gubernatorial race, is still strong and the other camp’s tactics won’t succeed.

“Dili man ta ana gud. We are not that kind of politicians. We don’t employ dirty tactics to win… Naa’y uban mo-succumb to pressure and threats but we are solid. Solid gihapon ang grupo ni Magpale,” he said.

Compostela mayor Joel Quiño said, in a press statement, that his brother’s transfer is not news already because since then, Jury is not part of BAKUD’s slate of town councilors in Compostela.

 “Jury is found to have a questionable loyalty and he does not possess the principles of BAKUD… it is unfortunate that they have resurrected an old issue in order to fuel their political propaganda. It goes to show that what they lack at the grassroots, actual political activity they make up by peddling old news, and making non-sense noise,” the statement read. — GAN (FREEMAN)