Basillote gives up PB dream,joins JVR

CEBU, Philippines - At the last minute, Talisay City Councilor Dennis Basillote gave up his dream to run for the Provincial Board to become the running mate of Mayor Johnny “JVR” De los Reyes in next year’s elections.

Basillote, a former ally of Alayon Party who jumped ship to Liberal Party, said he is only yielding to the people’s clamor for him to run for vice mayor.

He said that if he wins, he will not handle any chairmanship in the City Council and will just focus more on presiding the sessions.

De los Reyes, who is LP’s standard bearer in Talisay, along with Basillote, and 10 aspiring city councilors already filed their respective certificates of candidacy yesterday.

Before the filing, it was City Legal Officer Alfredo Sipalay who was offered the vice mayoral position by De los Reyes.

Sipalay was first open to the challenge with the condition that two of the mayor’s sons working for the city government will resign. He was apparently referring to City Administrator John Yre De los Reyes and his brother James.

On the separate offer to chair the Bids and Awards Committee, Sipalay laid down the same condition. He said his reservations were mainly tagged to the graft and corruption charges filed against the De los Reyeses before the Office of the Ombudsman.

With the condition apparently turned down by De los Reyes, Sipalay is relegated to being a city councilorial candidate.

LP’s complete lineup for city councilor in Talisay includes the mayor’s son Clifford De los Reyes; Sipalay; Vince Monterde, former media worker; Dina Ceniza, a businesswoman; Pooc Barangay Captain Bernard Balorio; Poblacion Barangay Captain Teodoro Belleza; incumbent City Councilor Val Ylanan; Lawaan 1 Barangay Councilman Cesar Baba; Dumlog Barangay Councilwoman Monette Rabaya; and Basillote’s son, Rex.

The group first heard the Mass at the Mohon parish before proceeding to another church in Barangay Bulacao. All the way, they were joined by supporters wearing yellow shirts.  (FREEMAN)