Tuburan an election hotspot no more

CEBU, Philippines —  For several elections now, the municipality of Tuburan in midwest Cebu has always figured on the authorities’ poll hotspots due to a hot contest among candidates.

That will change now as all candidates in the town come from only one party this time around.

 The team of Mayor Danilo “Danny” Diamante and his brother, Vice Mayor Democrito “Aljun” Diamante, filed their certificates of candidacy as independent candidates together with their complete slate for councilors.

The slate includes incumbent Councilors Eugenio Arigo, Rodillo Dela Cerna, Marvin Monterola, Carmelli “Aming” Suezo, Ray Mathew Laurel, and Louise Potencioso, Dason Lorenz Lagon and Association of Barangay Councils president Wilfredo Diamante.

 “Gikaluy-an rasad intawn from super hotspot area every election to a very peaceful area karong 2022 election. I hope nga mao gihapon ni ang mahitabo in the next elections to come,” Aljun told The Freeman.

Aljun said that this is the first time since 1851 – or in 171 years of the town’s history -- that the candidates are running unopposed.

Aljun also disclosed that he and Danny will swap positions on or before the deadline of the substitution.

He also explained that they run as independent as they will support the reelection bids of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia of One Cebu Party and Vice Governor Hilario Davide III of Liberal Party.

Constituents praised the Diamantes for coming up with the unification and for mending fences with their opponents.

A certain Obie Aves Montebon posted on her Facebook that with this, “a history in Tuburan unfolded,” saying that since they had their independence in 1946, Tuburan was considered to be the hotspot everytime election comes.

“That perception ended today, with the Leadership of the Diamante, first time in the history of politics, that only one party filed their respective certificate of candidacy. It only shows a great transformation of the most election hot spot municipality into a united and peaceful last day of COC filing,” Montebon said.

Aljun Diamante and Ako Bisaya Party-list Representative Sonny Lagon have taken the first step to unite on August 17, 2019 during the Visayas leg fellowship meeting of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Kaagapay Class of 1996 held at the Cebu Technological University (CTU) Tuburan Campus.

Diamante and Lagon, who are members of political rival clans in Tuburan, are both adopted members of the Kaagapay Class.

On December 9, 2019, Lagon’s wife, Daphne, and the team of Ako Bisaya Partylist visited the town hall during the Sangguniang Bayan session led by Aljun.

“This act would surely be a beginning of a united Tuburan. ‘Panaghiusa Para sa Katawhang Tuburanon’ Daghan kaayong salamat kaninyong tanan (Unity for all Tuburanons. Thank you, all, very much),”

Diamante later posted on Facebook, along with a photo of him, the Lagons, and other town officials.

In 2013, Aljun won for second term as mayor against former mayor Rose Marie Suezo, while Danny won as vice mayor against Daphne.

The Diamante brothers and Daphne are relatives since the latter’s mother was a Diamante.

In 2016, Aljun won against Daphne in the mayoralty race by a slim margin of 46 votes.

In 2019, Daphne ran for mayor but lost to Danny. It was also in the last elections when Sonny got a seat in Congress as partylist representative.

On May 9, 2022 elections, Lagon couple’s son, Lorenz, will surely get a seat in the Tuburan town council under the Diamantes since they are unopposed.

Sonny seeks another term as nominee of Ako Bisaya Party-list while Daphne seeks congressional seat for Cebu’s Sixth District composed of the towns of Consolacion and Cordova where Lorenz’s twin, Larenz, also run for councilor. — JMD (FREEMAN)