Richard Yap runs for Congress anew

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebuano businessman and actor Richard Yap, through his wife Melody, yesterday filed his certificate of candidacy for representative of Cebu City’s North District.

Yap was in Manila for a business engagement.

Clad in green shirts, Melody and Yap’s supporters went to the Commission on Elections office yesterday to formalize the actor’s congressional bid.

As this developed, a group of barangay kagawads called the Barangay Kagawad sa Dakbayan (BARKADA) has expressed support to Yap’s candidacy.

BARKADA president, Banilad barangay councilwoman Roycel “Clau-Clau” Vercide, said that Yap is running as an independent candidate.

In a press conference before yesterday’s filing, BARKADA strongly defended Yap from allegations “fabricated” by the other camps.

“We, the Barangay Kagawad sa Dakbayan (BARKADA) urge all candidates for Congress in the North District to refrain from spreading fake news, black propagandas, lies, deceit and black operations to besmirch the reputations of the competition just to gain advantage in the coming political exercise. Instead raise the level of campaigning based on programs and concrete plans,” read the group’s statement.

Kasambagan barangay councilman George Chang said their appeal is addressed to all candidates for representative in the North District.

Vercide, who read the statement, said that the other camps planned to file “invented” cases, such as questioning the citizenship of Yap for allegedly being a Chinese national.

Yap’s certificate of live birth shows that he was born in Cebu City. He grew up in Espina Village, Sambag 2, this city and is now taking residence in Barangay Kasambagan.

“We are expecting more inventions, more lies and more attacks. But we are ready, very ready to fight for truth and fairness,” added Vercide.

While the group is supporting the local candidates of Barug-Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (Barug-PDP-Laban), former Busay barangay captain Amilo Lopez said they can no longer support Councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid for congresswoman for failure to obey her campaign promises when she won in 2019.

These, he said, include the Paspas Card for medical assistance and the cash rewards for barangays where Mabatid won.

Peter Pineda of RY Volunteer Movement said that even if Yap lost the congressional seat in 2019 elections, he still extended assistance to the barangays during the pandemic.

In 2019, Yap ran for the same position but failed to unseat Raul Del Mar. Yap garnered 81,167 votes compared to Del Mar’s 134,816.

Bimbo to run for mayor

In a separate development, former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) undersecretary Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez will run for mayor of Cebu City in the 2022 polls.

According Hal Atienza, co-convenor of Movement for Transformative Politics-Gahum sa Katawhan,  Fernandez will file his certificate of  candidacy (COC) this afternoon, October 4, 2021.

“Mag-sponsor siya og 2 p.m. mass sa Sto. Rosario. Inig kahuman kay moadto dayon siya sa Comelec para mo-file siya sa iyang COC,” said Atienza.

Last week, urban groups and nongovernment organizations from different sectors like women, youth, senior citizens, and farmers were asking Fernandez to run for executive position.

Atienza emphasized that Fernandez is a strong contender for the post since he has the determination to serve the urban poor and sectoral groups.

Fernandez is also the head of Pagtambayayong Foundation and city administrator during the time of former mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Atienza said they are convinced that Fernandez is the right person to establish good programs in the city such as livelihood and quality education; promote security of tenure, land and housing rights, health programs; and move to stop the modernization project at Carbon Market, among others.

These matters are a consolidation of sectorial concerns that have been in existence for years and which public officials have failed to address, he added.

Fernandez is expected to announce today whether he will run as independent or under a political party.

Zafra Willing

Meanwhile, Cebu City South District Councilor Philip Zafra confirmed receiving an invitation to be a guest candidate in the slate of Partido BARUG led by Acting Mayor Michael Rama.

Zafra said he is willing to accept the offer, together with another City Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros.

Zafra and Hontiveros were former allies of BARUG and declared their independence last month.

“Ang mga tawo man ang atong gialagaran. Bisan pa man nga wala nami partido, ang kaayohan man sa katawhan ang atong prayoridad,” said Zafra on why he is willing to be tapped as guest candidate.

In a past interview, Zafra had clarified that he was not in conflict with any of his previous party mates.

Cebu province numbers

In Cebu province, a total of 54 local candidates filed their respective certificates of candidacy on the third day of filing yesterday.

From October 1 to 3, a total of 137 candidates have already filed their COCs.

Commission on Elections-Cebu Province election supervisor Leonel Marco Castellano said that out of the 137 candidates who filed their COC in Cebu, three are for Congress seat, four for Provincial Board member, 13 for mayor, 15 for vice mayor and 102 for city/municipal councilor. — with Sanden J. Anadia and Mitchelle L. Palaubsaon, JMD (FREEMAN)