Durano allies join One Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —  At least two mayors and other members of the Durano-led Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) Party in the fifth district of the Province of Cebu have shifted alliance to Garcia-led One Cebu Party.

Sogod Mayor Richard Streegan and wife, Vice Mayor Lissa Marie “Moonyeen” Durano-Streegan, led the members of the municipal council and 18 barangay captains in taking their oath with One Cebu Party last Thursday.

The eight slots in the municipal council were won by Bakud Party members in the 2019 elections.

Moonyeen is the cousin of former Tourism secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano.

The Bakud Party announced last week that Durano is considering running for governor in next year’s election against incumbent Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Other Bakud Party members, Carmen Mayor Carlo Villamor, Vice Mayor Al Damiles and three councilors also joined One Cebu Party on September 23, 2021.

One Cebu Party did not field official candidates for mayor and vice mayor in Carmen in the last elections except for some councilors who also won.

Villamor’s brother, Mike, run for Provincial Board post under Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) allied with One Cebu but lost.

One Toledo

Meanwhile, officials of Toledo City who ran as independent candidates in the 2019 elections have also joined One Cebu Party.

Yesterday, Gov. Garcia and Third District Representative, Deputy Speaker Pablo John Garcia led the oath taking of Mayor Marjorie “Joie” Perales, Vice Mayor Jay Sigue, Councilors James Gaite, Amuerfino Perales, Antonio Borja Jr., Ophelio Dolino, Association of Barangay Councils president Edgar Dejito and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Francis Marvin Prahinog.

Also renewed their oath as members of One Cebu Party are Councilors Ceasar Ian Zambo, Ricardo Pepito, Marc Eric Espinosa and Louis Nicholas Espinosa.

Pablo John, in his Facebook post, said they had two celebrations yesterday as the leaders of Toledo City took their oath and pledged their support for One Cebu on the birthday of their beloved late father, Governor Pablo “Pabling” Garcia, whose brand of leadership inspired the formation of the party.

“Truly, ‘this is not a union of convenience but a partnership of equals who respect each other and [are] united by a common desire to serve the people of the City of Toledo,” Pablo John said.

He also thanked the city officials for supporting the cause of One Cebu Party. — Le Phyllis F. Antojado GMR (FREEMAN)