BOPK bets rule barangay polls

CEBU, Philippines — Last Monday’s elections shifted the political landscape in Cebu City with 49 of 80 winning barangay captains coming from Bando-Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, the group of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Prior to the polls, BOPK only had 15 allied barangay captains. The rest were allied with the opposition, Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban.

The city’s Barangay Affairs Office confirmed the numbers but the Commission on Elections will be the one to release the official list of winners.

BAO head Felix Jose Lazarte said BOPK-allied barangay captains won in barangays Bonbon, Babag, Buot, Basak Pardo, Buhisan, Calamba, Duljo Fatima, Guadalupe, Inayawan, Kinasang-an Pardo, Pob. Pardo, Punta Princesa, San Nicolas Proper, Sawang Calero, Sinsin, Sudlon II, Tabunan, Sapandaku, and Labangon.

BOPK also won in Agsungot, Apas, Banilad, Binaliw, Busay, Capitol Site, Carreta, Cogon Ramos, Kamputhaw, Kasambagan, Lahug, Lusaran, Mabini, Mabolo, Malubog, Pahina Central, Paril, Pit-os, Pulangbato, Sambag I, San Antonio, San Roque, Sirao, T. Padilla, Talamban, Tejero, Tinago, Zapatera, Hippodromo, and Kalubihan.

Former mayor Michael Rama believes the “black propaganda” against Barug candidates damaged their reputation and affected the votes.

“Few days before, there is a massive distribution – black propaganda – that was spreading all throughout down to the sitio level,” Rama said.

He is referring to the flyers with names of opposition barangay captains who reportedly failed to liquidate millions of cash assistance from the city.

Days prior to the elections, Osmeña sued 58 captains before Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged offense.

Osmeña himself acknowledged the possible effect of the flyers.

“They said it had an effect. They said it’s politically motivated. Of course, it’s politically motivated. What’s wrong with that? I’m just making sumbong to the people. Does that make it a crime? And you know, it’s not intrigue. Those are records,” he told reporters.

He added: “I think it’s my appeal asking for their support that I needed two more councilors in the City Council. It’s not everything but that was the one that made me put so many winners there,” Osmeña said.

The two councilors Osmeña is referring to are the ex-officio councilors representing the Association of Barangay Councils and the SK Federation.

All elected barangay captains and SK chairmen will choose from among themselves the next ABC Cebu City Chapter president and the next SK Federation president.

If the new presidents are BOPK allies, BOPK will have the majority in the City Council.

At present, the council is dominated by Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban.

Osmeña wants the numbers in the council to make it easier for him to implement projects.

Recently, the opposition-dominated council rejected the P18 billion proposed project of Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. at the South Road Properties.

Osmeña has said residents of the city have lost a big-ticket project that could have generated 5,000 jobs.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella of Barug said his group will respect the outcome of the elections.

“The people have spoken and we will respect that. We will just have to work together. Rest assured, we will continue working and exercise and uphold the check and balance principle as mandated under the Local Government Code,” he told The FREEMAN.

Labella said opposition councilors will continue to scrutinize projects and transactions of the executive department.

Zafra, the ABC president, said he has yet to meet the winning candidates of the opposition to discuss their plans. He admitted that next year’s ABC elections will be an “uphill battle” for the opposition but he will seek re-election if given the chance.

Zafra won anew as barangay captain of Tisa.

“Let’s just cross the bridge when we get there ‘coz the ABC president seat is a game of number. We will meet with the winning candidates sa among grupo to discuss,” he told The FREEMAN. (FREEMAN)