Mabatid to decide today: BOPK bets file COC for ABC

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Barangay captains allied with Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan who are running for positions in the Association of Barangay Councils have filed their certificates of candidacy yesterday.

Elections are on Monday, July 30.  The BOPK bets include Kasambagan captain Franklyn Ong for president, Labangon captain Victor Buendia for vice president, and Pahina Central captain Carlo Yap for auditor.

Also in the team for board of directors are Rex Milan of Kalubihan, Manuel Guanzon of Capitol Site, Omar Durano of Cogon Ramos, Nilo Tariman of Pit-os, Gremar Barete of Buhisan, Susan Enriquez of Kinasang-an, Michael Gacasan of Guadalupe, and Manolita Abarquez of Poblacion Pardo.

They filed their COC before outgoing ABC president, Tisa barangay captain Phillip Zafra.

Ong said they finalized their lineup after consulting with Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the head of BOPK.

The barangay captains in the lineup are among those who remained loyal to BOPK even during the time when the Barug Team Rama PDP-Laban dominated the ABC.

“First, atong gi-priority ang consultation of the mayor… Gitagaan namo og priority ang mga kapitan nga original 15 nga nagpabilin namo sa niagi,” Ong said.

Ong is optimistic that they will be victorious, considering that 51 or the 80 barangay captains in Cebu City who will vote on Monday are now allied with BOPK. Only 26 are allied with Barug Team Rama PDP-Laban.

Buendia is grateful that Ong chose him as running mate.

“Actually, I was impressed that the trust and confidence nga gihatag sa mga ABC under Tommy Osmeña naa kanako nga gihimo ko nga vice president kay importante sa position is your trust, loyalty, and capacity to serve all the barangay captains sa Cebu City,” Buendia said.

He hopes for harmony among barangay captains despite political differences.

“Hopefully, katong kapitan nga wala sa among grupo, dili ta mag-away kay we are just all barangay captains. We have the same position,” Buendia said.

‘OPPONENT’

Meanwhile, Ong’s possible opponent for the presidency, Mabolo captain Prisca Niña Mabatid, said she will make a decision today, the last day of filing of COC.

“Kana lang gyud. It’s more on personal, akong business, akong safety. It’s more on personal gyud… akong family… mosugot ba gyud sila… unsa akong dangatan ani ba,” Mabatid said.

She said she has been very concerned of her safety after receiving death threats after her name surfaced as a possible candidate for ABC president.

Mabatid is being endorsed by the Office of the President for the ABC polls.

If she decided to run, Mabatid said she would want Mambaling captain Gines Abellana as running mate.

Abellana has already said he is willing to run with Mabatid.

“The best candidate would be Atty. Abellana. We need a lawyer in the ABC and makasabot sa mga balaod. Someone can guide you ba,” she said. — /JMO (FREEMAN)