Talisay dad "turns down" admin party invite

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Danny Caballero yesterday claimed before media men that he has turned down an invitation to join the administration party.

“Naa nay niagni, but magpabilin gihapon tang opposition. Kami ray ni-survive sa grupo, so para ang among grupo magpabiling lig-on, kinahanglan di mi magwatak-watak,” Caballero told the media in a mini press conference at his office yesterday.

Without naming names, Caballero admitted that there were some people connected with the other camp who tried to persuade him to join them for the next elections.

But he said he would remain an opposition despite being deprived of the perks which are entitled to every member of the administration bloc.

By perks, Caballero was referring to job quota (each administrator can endorse 20 job order employees at the city hall), out-of-town trips, ordinance and resolution sponsorship, among others.

Rumors had it that if the administration would court a candidate from the opposition, Caballero being new to his party would be a likely candidate.

His fellow oppositionists Councilors Romeo Villarante and Val Ylanan, the former being a brother-in-law to opposition leader former vice mayor Lani Abarquez while the latter has already been considered an outcast in his former party, could not even be considered to be a member of the administration.

Although Villarante and Ylanan, in the same press conference, out of “principle” and “ideals,” had manifested their intention to remain with their current party, despite the “perks.”

For next year’s election, with five incumbents and two on their final term, the administration will need five councilors to complete the 10-men council.

According to a source, two of the administration’s former councilors are coming back, while the remaining three are still vacant.

As to the opposition, apart from Villarante, Ylanan, and Caballero, businessman Johnny V. delos Reyes has already declared his candidacy.

Villarante said they are considering on having one each from the opposition families such as the Bellezas, the Abarquezes, and the Bacaltoses.

They will be getting the “winnable” and those who are “loyal” to their party, he said.

“If we can’t have the mayor, we’ll have the council,” Villarante said. (FREEMAN)