Ong for north dist. solon

CEBU, Philippines —

With this, Ong ends speculations he will now be the standard bearer of their political alliance amidst the decision of the Ombudsman dismissing and perpetually disqualifying Mayor Michael Rama from government service.

Ong said they had expected Rama's dismissal and disqualification even before their political alliance was formed.

Rama's political party, Partido Barug-Team Rama, recently formed a coalition with Ong's BagOng Sugbo party.

"Daghan nag mga chismis, mga hugoy-hugoy, we were anticipating nga naa g’yuy mga ing-ana nga mogawas," said Ong.

Despite the decision against Rama, Ong said their alliance remains strong especially now that he officially filed his COC.

When asked if the party already established a Plan B should Rama's disqualification hold out and bar him from running for office again, Ong said they "trust the wisdom of Rama".

"And of course among alliance sa execomm, we were talking about it, it will be an alliance party decision," said Ong.

He added that everything in their original lineup is still as it is, but he admitted there have been questions asked in their party. He told the party to wait for what will be decided in the next few days.

He also clarified that there has been no discussion yet of him running for mayor to replace Rama.

Ong failed to file his COC with his party last Thursday, after his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance from the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino didn't arrive that same day.

Ong will be going against incumbent Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos and incumbent North District Representative, Rachel "Cutie" del Mar.

Longer terms

Ong plans to push for longer terms for elected barangay officials while also looking into the Magna Carta of the Barangays if elected next year.

Ong said his experience in the barangay from being councilman to Kasambagan barangay captain to LNB-Cebu City president working with the national level will be very beneficial and advantageous to crafting laws for the benefit of the barangays.

“In Congress, I would look into the Magna Carta of the barangays...Nakita nako  daghan nag proposals…with my experience in the barangay, gikan pa sa konsehal sa barangay to ABC, and I have worked with even the National Liga ng mga Barangays…what are bills that we can introduce para sa kaayuhan sa barangay,” Ong said.

Ong added he is also looking into extending term limits for elected barangay officials as it is costly to hold barangay elections.

“Dili lang ako, even Comelec chairman George Garcia (wants) to have another barangay election next year, it would cost another ?20 billion… next year, kung magpadayon ang barangay elections, tulo kabuok elections ang himuon sa Comelec-BARMM, NLE, and barangay, costly kayo… maong they proposed for postponement,” Ong said.

Ong also said that in the last National LNB Convention in Manila, they signed a petition for the extension of barangay officials’ terms.

Instead of the usual postponement and extension of current term, Ong is also looking into having a law for more number of years per term.

“Ideal term---five years, six years, two terms only… para nako to give time for the barangay to continue the projects nga gihimo nila… kay sila man gud ang mga frontliners… duha ka five or sixyears… we are open to that. Kanang three years, very, very short… historically, atong barangays ‘ron halos naman five years. Gusto nila na dili na sige’g extend, extend… himuon na lang g’yud balaod… nga i-fixed term, two terms sa barangay, mao ni iyang term, five years or six years , kaduha ra modagan,” Ong said.

Earlier, outgoing Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos who is set to run for senator also told barangay captains during his visit to Cebu about the need for elected barangay officials to have more years in their term to see continuity and progress in their respective barangays, based on his own study on the years of service of elected officials in other countries.