Osmeña disowns bet, warns voters in FB post

CEBU, Philippines – Basak San Nicolas barangay captain candidate Reymelio Delute is not running under the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) camp, said Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who heads the group.

“Notice to the people of Basak San Nicholas: Mr. Delute is NOT a candidate of BOPK in the upcoming barangay elections. Do not let his posters mislead you,” Osmeña’s Facebook post read yesterday.

In his press conference, Osmeña admitted that Delute was an identified BOPK supporter before, but he disowned him after he received reports that Delute's agenda was reportedly to collect money from the vendors.

“He was an identified with us before, but you know, what he has been doing? He has been organizing the vendors…In other words he just want to collect money from the vendors. I cannot accept that,” he said.

In a separate interview, Delute respects the decision of Osmeña saying the mayor has the right to do so.

But he will still continue bringing the name of BOPK because he believes the vision of the present administration to the city.

“Aw og iyaha ng gisulti. I will respect sa iyahang stand. Wala ko’y mahimo og mao man gali na iyahang gisulti sa publiko,” Delute said.

He said when Osmeña won as mayor in 2016 elections, he already informed him that he will run for barangay captain in Basak San Nicolas for the second time.

“Of course ma-downhearted ka…Pero puwede man sad usbon niya ang iyahang huna-huna kay that was before pagdaog nila,” Delute said.

Even if he was disowned, Delute has no plans of changing his party affiliations, adding it would not change his mind to run for public office since it was the residents of Basak San Nicolas who would vote.

“Para nako it’s more on the principle. I believe on the vision of Tommy sa Sugbuanon,”Delute added.

Campaign materials

Lawyer Anna Gujilde, city election officer of the south district, said that posting campaign materials before the campaign period is against the law if you are an official candidate.

“Before they put that up, siguro dili pa sila kandidato that time pero karon na naka-file na sila sa ilang certificate of candidacy (COC), considered na as a candidate, so dili nana puwede na mo-post sila'g campaign posters before the campaign period,” she said.

She added that someone may file a complaint about it and may lead to the candidates’ disqualifications.

“Depende pud sa nature sa posters. If clear siya na ang intention is to promote their candidacy, might as well remove them kay basin unyag ma-filan sila'g premature campaigning kay ang atong pagpangampanya magsugod karong May 4 pa,” she said.

Gujilde advised the candidates and their supporters to remove their campaign posters and to be responsible not to put any campaign materials before the campaign period.

“Amo lang iawhag ang mga kandidato ug ilang mga supporters kung puwede sila nalay tanggal kay ang tendency ana magpaabot sila na ang Comelec ang motangtang nya one day ibalik raman pud nila,” Gujilde said.

She encouraged the candidates to be good public servants and obey the law.

Asked regarding the candidates wearing shirts with political party names, Gujilde said that barangay elections are supposedly non-partisan and candidates shall not carry a political alignment.

Lawyer Gallardo Escubar, election officer of the north district, denied the accusations of some candidates that there is favoritism during the filing of COCs.

“Our policy was first come, first served.  Unya pag April 18, daghan kaayo og ni-file and naay suggestion na ang leader nalang ang pasudlon aron dili magdasok sa sulod ug ang leader nalang ang motawag sa iyang grupo,” he said.

He explained that they limit the number of the people who can enter inside the office to avoid crowding and for the better flow of filing.

“Dili tinuod na may favoritism kay ang among gibuhat kung kinsay nauna mao gyud toy giuna.  Then after naka-decide mi na ang leader nalang maoy pasudlon,” Escubar said. —Ivory Pauline Escarro, CNU COMM Intern/GAN (FREEMAN)