CEBU, Philippines — An ally of Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) party in the 5th district of Cebu has defected to One Cebu, the party of gubernatorial bet Gwendolyn Garcia.
In a press release, One Cebu announced that Compostela councilor Jury Quiño has declared support for Garcia’s bid for governor of Cebu in the midterm elections.
Garcia is running against Vice Governor Agnes Magpale who is the standard bearer of BAKUD party.
Quiño also supports the congressional candidate of One Cebu in the 5th district, former Liloan mayor and CPA Commissioner Duke Frasco, who is also running against incumbent Congressman Red Durano.
Quiño has expressed disappointments on how the Duranos run their town during his speech last Sunday where he took an oath before Garcia in Barangay Basak, Compostela.
He was accompanied by his wife, Basak Barangay Captain Jane Quiño.
Quiño said his constituents have been longing for change and they hope for the same progress enjoyed by their neighboring town of Liloan under Frascos’ leadership.”
With Quiño as new ally of One Cebu, the party sees this as a plus to the camp and would strengthen the candidacy of One Cebu bets in Compostela.
“Historically, Compostela was a barangay of Liloan so this is a homecoming for them. We welcome Councilor Quiño and the Compostelahanons with open arms as our brothers and sisters, and our partners for change in the 5th District” Frasco said.
But for Compostela Mayor Joel P. Quiño, the defection is not news for Compostelahanons.
The mayor said that during their assembly of the party’s barangay leaders, they have already announced that they will only be fielding seven candidates for councilors.
“Needless to say he (Jury Quiño) is no longer part of the slate. This is a decision that the Party has made together with my other brothers and my nephew who is BAKUD’s candidate for the mayoralty post in consultation with the Party leaders in Compostela. Jury is found to have a questionable loyalty and he does not possess the principles of BAKUD,” Mayor Quiño said.
He added Councilor Quiño has put himself and the entire One Cebu slate into a little corner as Mayor Quiño considers the town his bailiwick since the leaders in that barangay pledged their allegiance to BAKUD.
Quiño is the second ally of Magpale’s camp who shifted to the opponent’s party.
Last week, Badian Mayor Carmencita Lumain defected to Garcia’s camp even if she remains a candidate of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), a national party allied with BAKUD. — MBG (FREEMAN)