‘Uncouple’ rivals in Dagupan barangay polls

DAGUPAN CITY — They fought when they were still living together as man and wife. They continue to fight even when they are already separated.

This time, the estranged couple, Ricardo "Boy" Bravo Jr., 55, and Salvacion Bravo, 52, are fighting for the chairmanship of Barangay Herrero, this city, in the July 15 elections.

Salvacion Bravo, or Salve to her barangaymates, has earned a reputation of "meddling" in the affairs of the barangay when Boy was the barangay captain for two terms, from 1989 to 1993.

In fact, she was declared persona non grata by her husband’s councilmen, which prompted her to file a libel case against them. She told The STAR that she was merely trying to prove to everyone that she was a very supportive wife, especially in the clean and green project of their barangay, but many misconstrued her actions.

After the couple’s relationship turned sour, with Salve no longer by Boy’s side to help him in the campaign, the husband lost in his attempt for a third term in the 1996 elections.

When The STAR tried to interview her, the outspoken Salve surprisingly kept mum when pressed to comment on various issues.

"I don’t want to issue statements now about our political fight. I hope the Lord will help me because it was the people who pushed me to run," she said.

Salve filed her certificate of candidacy on June 5 in the morning while husband Boy filed his on the same day in the afternoon. — Eva de Leon