Baricuatro gives up PB chairmanships

CEBU, Philippines — In the name of “delicadeza,” Cebu Provincial Board Member Christopher “Dong” Baricuatro of the seventh district has decided to relinquish his chairmanships in the board.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, during a caucus on Monday, revealed that Baricuatro dropped his chairmanship for the committee on education and committee on health as his father, Cesar Baricuatro, is running for mayor of Dumanjug under the Garcia-led One Cebu party.

Baricuatro used to be an active ally of Magpale in the board. Magpale is running against Cebu third district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia in the race to the governorship in the May 2019 elections.

“I told him nga unsa man, ‘can you remain?’ Unya ingon siya nga mag-neutral lang ko. Then I said, in politics there’s no such thing as being neutral. So out of delicadeza, he gave up his chairmanship sa health and sa education, but that will be formalized sa Monday pa,” Magpale told reporters yesterday.

Sought for comment, Baricuatro said he decided to step down to avoid being doubted upon.

“At least wala sila’y doubt sa tanang lihok nako as committee chair,” he said.

Board Member Jose Mari Salvador (second district) will replace Baricuatro as chairman of the committee on health while Board Member Jerome Librando (seventh district) will lead the committee on education.

Cesar will be running against incumbent Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica who is seeking for another term in next year's midterm elections under Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

Board Member Baricuatro, who had filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) under NPC for his third term, said there’s a “conflict” between his father and Gica. He also said his father decided to run for mayor to help the town residents.

“As of now NPC gihapon ko. There is no indication nga bawian ko og CONA (certificate of nomination and acceptance),” Baricuatro said. — KBQ (FREEMAN)