Brgy capt belies move to One Cebu from LP

CEBU, Philippines - A barangay captain of Tuburan town allied with the Liberal Party denied a report he is joining One Cebu after he met Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in the Capitol a week ago.

Barangay Captain Jimelito Bayno of Bakyawan, Tuburan, with three of his councilmen, made the clarification yesterday following reports he already shifted alliances.

“Loyalista mi sa LP ug sa team ni Mayor (Democrito) Aljun Diamante, way kausaban,” said Bayno in a press conference.

Bayno explained that the majority of his councilmen who are supporters of One Cebu asked him to accept the offer of Garcia of a multicab, P100,000 for improvement of health center and P50,000 for socio-cultural activities.

This prompted him to heed the request and accompanied former mayor Constancio “Boyet” Suezo III whose wife, former mayor Rose Gerona Suezo, is running for mayor in 2013 election under One Cebu, to the Capitol.

Bayno said he brought with him their former barangay captain, Celestino Mahusay, a supporter of One Cebu.

Bayno said he was hesitant at first to heed the request of his councilors but later realized that it was his constituents who could benefit from the project and financial assistance from Garcia.

Along with Bayno during the visit to the governor was Alegria Barangay Captain Rommel Tundag, also president of the Association of Barangay Councils of Tuburan; and Sonny Lagon, the husband of Daphne Arias Lagon, the running mate of Rose.

Rose will be running against Diamante in the 2013 elections.

Bayno said that neither Boyet nor Garcia asked him to support One Cebu during his visit.

He stressed that once the offer of Garcia will be released to his barangay, he will accept it without necessarily transferring support to One Cebu.

Boyet earlier said that they expect more barangay captains to join their group as the election period draws near.  He, however, did not reveal how many out of 54 barangay captains of Tuburan are now in their group.  — (FREEMAN)