Bogeyman

Bencyrus Ellorin .

NOW, eyes are set on who will win as the presidency of the Liga ng mga Barangay of Cagayan de Oro City.

This is a juicy position because whoever gets it becomes an ex officio member of the City Council. It’s the same thing with the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president.

On a bigger note, the winner in the Liga presidential race would reflect the political color of majority of the city’s 80 barangay chairpersons.

The results of the May 14 polls is close, with the combined forces of the “violet” and “orange” enjoying a very slight lead. But even those numbers could change anytime. Results of the recent barangay polls however indicate that Mayor Oscar Moreno, Vice Mayor Kikang Uy and Rep. Klarex Uy have consolidated their forces in the city, and it looks like they have more bets winning big in the barangays.

But results of the 2013 and 2016 elections would indicate that the number of barangay chairpersons under a political color does not translate into votes. Mayor Moreno and VM Kikang only had around 20 barangay chairpersons under tow in 2016, yet they resoundingly won. The same with Rep. Klarex in the city’s District 1.

The ex officio in the City Council for the Liga and SK are holding powerful positions. Now, who would be the bets of the administration, the “violets” and the “orange”? Would the two local opposition groups field a common candidate or field their own bets?

Defeated Puntod barangay chairman candidate, former Liga president Alexander Dacer, was quick to volunteer Jerico Goldmar Ebabacol of Barangay 17. Ebabacol was a former SK chairman and ex officio member of the Emano city council. The administration is not yet announcing its bet.

There is however a cloud of suspicion whether Ebabacol would be the violet’s bet. He was seen at City Hall, cozying up with some administration personalities after the election. Could it be that Dacer is actually pushing Ebabacol as a bogeyman? It would not be a surprise if that is the case. Like his master, he has sort of learned the art of confusion.

I am of the opinion that the opposition has someone else up its sleeve to run for Liga president. But before we conclude, we ask, do they really have the numbers or all these projections are just presumptuousness?