BOPK abandons LP?

CEBU, Philippines — The Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) group of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has reportedly abandoned Liberal Party (LP) as its national party for next year’s midterm elections.

City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said Osmeña’s group has been with LP for several elections in the past.

“Ang ilang thinking siguro is kon mag LP sila, mosamot kasuko si President (Rodrigo) Duterte, matamparos unya ta. So, they were actually scrambling and looking for another party to lean on,” Garcia told reporters.

Garcia said a reliable source, which he refused to name, revealed that BOPK wanted to join Hugpong Ng Pagbabago of presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

BOPK is also considering to join Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino or Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI).

But BOPK-allied Councilor Sisinio Andales said Garcia is just making “insinuation and speculation” for the BOPK.

Councilors Eugenio Gabuya, Jr. and Joy Augustus Young said they do not know yet as to the national party of the BOPK, adding that it is none of Garcia’s business to know their party.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, wife of the mayor, said the group will reveal the national party in due time.

Councilor Alvin Arcilla, for his part, said it’s just the opinion of Garcia.

“Siya man gud UNA sauna, nipahipi sa PDP ug motapon na pod sa Hugpong? Galibog pod ko unsa siya, kay sauna BOPK iya papa, unya nag KUSUG, ni Barug Team Rama, unya karon unsa iya local party? Kami sigurado mi nga BOPK lang gyud mi pirmi,” Arcilla said.

Mayor Osmeña did not comment on the matter yesterday.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the conflict between local members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has been resolved last Wednesday when Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) Chairman Noel Felongco held Basic Membership Seminar among other members of Barug.

Felongco is the PDP-Laban Region VII president being appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte before the 2016 elections.

Garcia said former president Lorna Bacalla will still be part of the group.

“I’m happy that once and for all, we have settled these issues and the local PDP-Laban has remained united and strong for the candidacy of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella (who will run for mayor next year),” Garcia told reporters.

Garcia believed that resolving the conflict of the local members of PDP-Laban will help them in the next year’s elections.

He also said that 90 percent of the "Let's Do it" movement, which supported Duterte and Osmeña in the 2016 elections, have expressed support for Labella.

Garcia also announced that the coalition of PDP-Laban and the local group of former mayor Michael Rama will now be called Barug-PDP Laban and no longer Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban.

Councilor Joel Garganera said it was Rama who said that the group will do away with family names in their party name since they are a coalition of several groups.

“Mayor Mike says so nga we should do away with family names. It was his idea. ‘Barug’ represents the principle and idea. So, it doesn’t represent a particular family name,” Garganera said.

Rama and Councilor Pastor Alcover, Jr. will remain to be part of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Garcia said Barug’s application for it to be called a political party before the Commission on Elections is still pending. (FREEMAN)