Bebot won’t let his guard down on Pesquera

CEBU, Philippines —  While he does not mind if Cebu City Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera will run against him in next year’s midterm elections, South District Rep. Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa said he won’t let his guard down.

Abellanosa said every candidate should not be taken lightly because everyone will move heaven and earth to win the polls.

“As I am the incumbent representative, I will be subject to the audit of my constituents. I believe I have not failed them,” he said.

Abellanosa, who is allied with the administration Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), will seek reelection next year.

Pesquera, in a separate interview, said she has made up her mind on running for the congressional seat in city’s south district under the opposition Barug Team Rama-PDP-Laban.

The south district covers the barangays of Basak Pardo, Basak San Nicolas, Bulacao, Calamba, Cogon Pardo, Duljo Fatima, Guadalupe, Inayawan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mambaling, Pahina San Nicolas, Pasil, Poblacion Pardo, Punta Princesa, Quiot, San Nicolas Proper, Sawang Calero, Suba, and Tisa.

Others include barangays Babag, Bonbon, Buhisan, Buot, Kalunasan, Pamutan, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sapangdaku, Sinsin, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, Tabunan, Tag-bao, and Toong.

Pesquera said the strong clamor of the south district residents who have been affected by the construction of the P683-million underpass project on N. Bacalso Avenue prompted her to seek for a higher position.

“Karong panahona, sobra na gyud ang pag antos maong na agni gyud ko sa pagdagan para mo representa sa South District sa Kongreso,” she told reporters.

The councilor said she will provide the constituents of city’s south district a “better option.”

 “It’s high time nga dapat nasad nga daghan tang mga balaodnon nga atong iduso ilabi na nga kaning representation sa Cebu City, with the population that we have now, with the number of registered voters we have now, we are entitled to four representatives in Congress. As of now, we only have two. So, we are underrepresented in the Congress,” she said.

Pesquera said her exposure and experience in the local arena would help her in the House of Representatives.

“Karon, I have enough time to convince our constituents, our voters that I am the better option. I am the one that can lead them and bring their voice in Congress,” she said.

Abellanosa, on the other hand, vowed to continue pursuing the funding for the Cebu City South Coastal Boulevard that will run from Barangay Sawang Calero to Barangay Inayawan.

For his achievements, Abellanosa said there are 20,318 people who received medical, hospitalization, burial, crisis or fire assistance, while 7,239 individuals received assistance, including livelihood, internships, emergency and employment, from his office.

He also claimed to have helped 4,358 scholars in their skills training.

Other programs that he initiated are the Cebu Technological University extension for mountain barangays; college scholarships and technical training; P267 million multipurpose buildings; P1.467 billion project for flood control, road widening, and sidewalk projects; P700 million underpass; P738 million for public school building; and P227 million for concreting farm to market roads.

Abellanosa said he has co-authored four laws like the extension of the validity of the Philippine passports. — KBQ (FREEMAN)