Brgy chief drops post to chase Congress seat

CEBU, Philippines – The president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Cordova town resigned from his post yesterday and announced his plans for running for Congress in the 2016 elections. Dr. Celedonio Sitoy, 74, who is the incumbent captain of Barangay Gabi in Cordova, submitted his resignation letter to his older brother Mayor Adelino Sitoy and to his niece Vice Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho.

The practicing physician, who specializes in general medicine, will run under a group called Movement for Better Lapu-Lapu (MBL) whose standard bearers for the 2016 elections in Lapu-Lapu City are Engr. Rolando Patalinghug as mayor and Rufo Amores III as vice mayor.

In a press conference yesterday, Dr. Sitoy said he has been a resident of Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City for 46 years.

The city is a lone district in Cebu.

Dr. Sitoy said he had to resign to make way for early preparations for the upcoming polls.

The decision to run for a congressional seat in the city was also inspired by Mayor Sitoy, he added.

"To-a sa Cordova ang akong office. Mouli man ko dinhi sa amo-a (Gun-ob) kung mingaw didto kay naa man ko'y clinic dinhi," Dr. Sitoy said.

He intends to register with the Commission on Elections in Lapu-Lapu City after six months.

Expected to replace his post as village chief of Barangay Gabi, Cordova is Councilor Vilma Tumulak and as ABC president is vice president Samuel Sumagang of Barangay Bang-Bang.

Plans

Dr. Sitoy said he is aiming to make Cordova town and Lapu-Lapu City under one province because according to him, both share the same issues.

"Pareho ra man og problema ang Lapu-Lapu ug Cordova, sama sa plano nako nga i-solve tanang problema alang sa tibuok isla sa Mactan," he said.

Some of these issues, he said, include power, roads and water problems.

He also added that he will bat for Olango island to be converted into a separate municipality.

Aside from pooling Cordova and Lapu-Lapu under one province, Dr. Sitoy envisions an international port for local and foreign tourists, particularly a seaport for cruise ships.

He said this will be timely since the third bridge will be constructed soon.

Before his resignation, Dr. Sitoy served as ABC president in Cordova for three terms.

Heat is on

MBL's line-up of councilor hopefuls in Lapu-Lapu City will include Tino Aving, Rifo Bering, Ferdie Dungog, Isko Gilig, Dave Godornez, Epoy Paquibot, Sario Silawan, Tantan Sabalones and Titing Tumulak.

Earlier, a separate slate called Team Angel and Inday Neri also announced some of its candidates.

Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, former congresswoman of Cebu's sixth district, confirmed running for Congress in the lone district of the city while former Punta Engaño barangay captain Angel Rodriguez is set to run for mayor still in Lapu-Lapu.

In a separate interview, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza told The FREEMAN she is not against anyone running as "it is a free country."

"Okay man iyahang (Dr. Sitoy) plano. Dili lang sa ko mo-comment ana. Tan-awon sa nato (puhon). Anybody can run and it's a free country. I'm fine with it," Radaza said.