Opposition candidates accused of harassment

The Cebu City opposition candidates were accused of harassment by Cogon-Pardo barangay captain Lyndon Fermo after they reportedly insisted to enter the barangay sports complex while a feeding program for at least 1,000 indigent children was being conducted yesterday morning.

But the opposition candidates - composed of south district congressional aspirant Jonathan Guardo, mayoralty bet Mary Ann delos Santos, runningmate Raymond Garcia and some candidates for councilors - claimed that they were the ones being harassed by Fermo, who did not allow them to enter the sports complex while the feeding program was ongoing.

Guardo even plans to file criminal and administrative charges against the barangay captain for preventing a taxpayer to enter into the barangay sports complex.

But Fermo had the incident entered into the blotter of the Pardo Police Station, claiming that they were the ones being harassed by Guardo’s group.

The barangay captain said he and his tanods were just following the order from the Joy Children Foundation that the affair was exclusively for children and should not be a venue for politics.

Fermo is affiliated with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, which Mayor Tomas Osmeña heads.

Reports said while the feeding program was ongoing, Guardo’s group arrived and wanted to enter the sports complex, claiming that he was invited into the activity being one of the patrons of the foundation.

But Fermo told Guardo that the organizer of the event had instructed him not to allow any politicians to enter as this might disrupt the activity.

"Ako pa gani siya nga giingnan nga ayaw na lang Tan kay mga bata man na, dili man na sila maminaw sa inyong diskurso," Fermo added.

Former councilor Eugenio Gabuya, an opposition candidate for councilor who used to be Cogon-Pardo’s barangay captain, approached Fermo and both engaged into a heated argument.

"Direyot g’yud hinoon sila magkasinukmagay. Binuang na ning ilang gibuhat namong taga oposisyon," said Guardo, who is running against reelectionist Rep. Antonio Cuenco.

Fermo said he would welcome any charges that Guardo will file against him, adding that Osmeña has advised him to "go on with your work. Good job." — Rene U. Borromeo/LPM