Group still intact, says Andales: BOPK checks loyalty

CEBU, Philippines — Amidst the possibility of losing the majority in the Cebu City Council, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) had to get the commitment of its elected members to stay with the group.

Councilor Sisinio Andales told The Freeman they had to do a loyalty check among BOPK councilors and, so far, everyone is reportedly staying.

"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 Councilor David Tumulak who said last week that he will support Labella’s administration.

Andales said supporting Labella’s administration does not necessarily mean shifting political allegiance.

"To support the program of mayor-elect Labella does not mean shifting of party affiliation. We remain to be BOPK. Mahuman ning pagsuway sa grupo, mahibaw-an karon Hulyo kong mausab ba ang kamada sa BOPK. As of now, these are yet speculations (We will see by July how BOPK will end up as)," Andales said.

Technically speaking, BOPK still has Andales, Tumulak, Raul Alcoseba, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Nestor Archival, Alvin Dizon, Joy Augustus Young, Lea Japson, and Alvin Arcilla.  It also has the support of ex-officio Council members Franklyn Ong, the president of the Association of Barangay Councils, and Jessica Resch, the federation president of the Sangguniang Kabataan.

Aside from loyalty issues, BOPK is also facing a challenge with the disqualification cases of Andales and Arcilla.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has ruled that Arcilla was not qualified to run in the May 13 polls. Arcilla also failed to get a temporary restraining order from the court.

The Comelec office in Cebu is but waiting for an order to execute the disqualification ruling.

The Comelec is yet to resolve the disqualification case against Andales.

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.

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.

Earlier, Archival, a returning councilor, admitted they are starting to get worried with recent developments at the Council.

He said he has organized a meeting with fellow BOPK councilors today. He told The Freeman earlier: “In case nga kuwangan mi, we won’t have the voice to put in people nga, which we think maayo sa syudad (In case that we will lose the numbers, we will not have the voice to push for what we believe will be good for the city). It’s not a good idea nga we look at the group as majority when, in fact, we don’t really know what’s going on,” Archival told The FREEMAN.

Andales remains hopeful the group will continue to be intact, especially that its standard bearers, Tomas Osmeña and Mary Ann de los Santos, lost to Labella and returning Michael Rama in the recent polls. (FREEMAN)