If they lose majority in council: BOPK to focus as fiscalizers

CEBU, Philippines — Losing the majority in the Cebu City Council will not necessarily be a grim reality for the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) as one of the group’s leaders said they will assume the responsibility as fiscalizers in the city government.

"Kung dili nami majority, they will win diba? Wala mana'y problema. It's a good thing that we are the fiscalizers kay mao man na ang maka-check and balance gud, which would be a healthy Council, I think," returning councilor Nestor Archival told The Freeman.

Archival was also quick to say that they will not be obstructionists, should they indeed become the minority group, and that BOPK councilors will support programs and projects of incoming mayor Edgardo Labella that will be for the best interest of the people.

"Fiscalizer mi. Mao ni ang best option or scheme nga mahitabo unya. Sa amo nga case, whoever will be left sa BOPK, I'm sure fiscalizer mi. We are not an obstruction (We will be fiscalizers. Whoever will be left among us in BOPK, I’m sure we will fiscalize and not obstruct)," Archival said.

BOPK is awaiting a final ruling and order on the cases of winning councilors Alvin Arcilla and Sisinio Andales who have been slapped with disqualification cases.

Once the disqualification against Arcilla is enforced, Jerry Guardo will take over. Guardo has said he will support Labella’s administration. If Andales gets disqualified, Joel Garganera who follows him in the ranking, will take over.

If this happens, Partido Barug - PDP Laban will get the majority at the Council with 10 councilors – Guardo, Garganera, Tumulak, Prisca Niña Mabatid, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Donaldo Hontiveros, Eduardo Rama, Antonio Cuenco, Renato Osmeña Jr., and Phillip Zafra.

Allen Canoy, the one who filed the disqualification petitions against Arcilla and Andales, contended that both have already served three terms, from 2010-2013, 2013-2016, and 2016-2019.

Last Monday, 10 councilors attended the BOPK meeting, including Archival, Andales, Arcilla, Lea Japson, Alvin Dizon, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Raul Alcoseba, Joy Augustus Young, Association Barangay Councils Cebu City President Franklyn Ong, and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Jessica Resch.

Archival said Councilor Dave Tumulak was not able to attend the meeting because of a commitment in Manila.

"Basically, during the time nga naa mi meeting, we didn’t ask for the commitment. The way I understand it, being there is already a commitment," Archival said, referring to the councilors’ commitment to BOPK.

Andales himself said earlier they conducted a loyalty check among BOPK councilors and, so far, everyone is reportedly staying with the group.

"Verbal commitment sa miyembro nga mo-stick sa BOPK... so far, everybody is committed to the group (They have committed verbally that they will stay with BOPK)," Andales said, even Tumulak who said last week that he will support Labella’s administration.

Archival said some BOPK councilors received invitation to join Labella’s group, Partido Barug – PDP Laban, but he did not disclose who these councilors are.

Whatever the fate of BOPK, Archival said they will carry their responsibilities out as councilors properly.

So far, however, even just days before they will assume office, Archival said chairmanships of the committees in the Council remain uncertain.

"We have preliminary discussions. Not unless mahibaw-an nato ang numbers, it's not easy for us to say nga imo ni, ako ni. Sa Council man gud, whoever is the majority will decide the chairmanships," Archival said. (FREEMAN)