Senior aid’s release ‘laced with politics’

CEBU, Philippines — Outside a sports complex in Sitio La Paloma, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City yesterday morning, a group of women wearing yellow shirts greeted senior citizens wanting to claim their cash assistance from the city government.

“Team Cabulao, ha? Vote straight,” one of them would tell senior citizens as soon as they stepped out of the gym.

The women, who had a master list of the seniors eligible for the cash aid, were allegedly supporters of Eddie Cabulao, who is running for barangay captain in Tisa and a known supporter of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan.

Cabulao is running against incumbent barangay captain Phillip Zafra, an ex-officio member of the City Council being the president of the Association of Barangay Councils and who is affiliated with the opposition Barug PDP-Laban.

Cabulao, an incumbent barangay councilor, was also sighted at the distribution yesterday, clad in a blue polo shirt printed with the letters “BOPK.”

On Friday, Osmeña warned his allies not to take advantage of the distribution of the financial assistance to senior citizens to advance their political interests. Otherwise, he “will cut them off.”

Sought for comment, Cabulao was quick to deny he used the occasion to campaign, saying he merely assisted in the distribution.

“Aduna may executive order si Mayor Tomas (Osmeña) nga ang BMO (Barangay Mayor’s Office) maoy mo-assist ani. Karon bisag dili na mi under sa BMO, motabang lang gihapon mi. At least ni-assist lang mi sa mga programa ni Mayor Tom,” he told The FREEMAN.

As for his supporters who were allegedly campaigning for him, Cabulao said they did it out of free will.

“Natural man na sa supporters kay free man ta. Ang ato lang gidili ni Mayor Tom ang pagpanghatag og bills ug leaflets pero karon during sa among distribution wala mi nanghatag og campaign materials. Ang amo lang diri kay mo-assist lang mi sa senior citizens nga maayo ang paghatag sa ilang financial assistance,” he explained.

Nena Padin, one of the barangay’s administrators for the cash aid distribution, separately confirmed that supporters of Cabulao were blatantly telling senior citizens to vote for their bet.

“Iyang mga kaalyado bisag wala naglingkod sa barangay maoy nagsamok-samok. Kami administrators mi sa barangay pero dili mi ganahan og samok so sige na lang. Gasamok-samok sila bisag sa services namo. Tan-awa na sila, nagsuot og mga campaign shirts. Kami wala gyud mi ana kay di pa man gyud puwede ang kampanya karon,” she said.

“Maapektuhan gyud ang election tungod ani kay naningkamot man gyud na sila'g pangampanya. Kada buwan man gyud ni ang distribution para sa senior citizens. Halos di man gali mi tagaan og lista sa mga pangalan sa mga tawo nga moduol namo. Gusto nila sila ra gyud,” she added.

Zafra, in a phone interview, lamented that the release of financial assistance was supposed to be done in partnership with the barangay but this setup has not been followed.

“Well, supposedly the distribution should be a partnership between the city and the barangay pero lagi nga dili ta kaalyado sa Mayor mao na nga sila muapil. But of course, mo-take advantage man gyud nang uban kay gusto sad nga mopapel pero dili na lang na nato sila tagdon,” Zafra said.

The ABC president said he will leave it to the people of Tisa to decide come May 14.

But it turned out that the same situation was also noted in some other barangays in the city.

In Apas, for example, Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman said BMO workers and aspiring candidates were allegedly campaigning yesterday while the financial assistance was being distributed.

According to Ayuman, some barangay and SK candidates were wearing shirts colored yellow, a color identified with Osmeña’s BOPK. He added that some were even shaking hands with senior citizens.

“Di ko mabalaka ana kay nakahibawo man ang mga seniors sa situation… Dili big deal para nako kay trademark ni Tomas ang magpahimos,” Ayuman said, adding that it is also usual for candidates to be “friendly” during election period.

In Barangay Cogon-Pardo, BMO workers and aspiring candidates were likewise spotted during the distribution, according to Barangay Captain Harry Eran.

Eran said the candidates were wearing their campaign uniforms and were telling seniors, “Ayaw og kalimot sa election, ha?”

Meanwhile, in the barangays of Labangon and Punta Princesa, the distribution was not marked with politics and reportedly went smoothly.

Lawyer Jhun Andales, an aspiring barangay captain in Punta Princesa, said they knew their limitations.

“Kami may ni-volunteer pag-assist. Wala gyud mi nihisgot og election karon because we know our limitations. We are not promoting our candidacy; we are just here to assist sa paghatag hinabang sa mga senior citizens,” he said.

Andales said they also offered free blood sugar and blood pressure testing to the senior citizens.

The city distributed a total of P67.3 million in aid to the elderly residents of Cebu City. Each senior is entitled to P1,000 in cash per month or P12,000 yearly from the city government as mandated under City Ordinance No. 2435. — Mary Kristine M. Cameros CNU Comm Interns /JMD (FREEMAN)