By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .
THE PDP-Laban and the Padayon Pilipino are preparing to clash again over the leadership of the influential Liga ng mga Barangay in the city.
Marlo Tabac, barangay chairman of Gusa, said he has information about who the PDP-Laban would likely field for the presidency of the Liga ng mga Barangay here but he declined to identify the barangay chairperson.
“Dili lang sa ko magsaba kay basin sondoton sa kontra,” said Tabac, a known supporter of Mayor Oscar Moreno and head of the PDP-Laban council in the city.
Councilor Leon Gan of the Padayon Pilipino said the opposition political party has yet to decide on its bet for the Liga presidency.
“Wala pa man koy nadunggan ana kinsa kay sayo pa man kaayo,” Gan said.
Gan however said the Padayon Pilipino is confident because it counted 51 of the 80 winning candidates for barangay chairpersons here as its allies.
He said the Padayon Pilipino counted only 29 barangay chairpersons associated with Moreno.
Gan explained that the Padayon Pilipino has coalesced with the group of former 2nd District congressman Rufus Rodriguez. Together, the Padayon Pilipino and the Rodriguez group have the numbers, he said.
“Duna may mga barangay nga pareho og kandidato sa pagka-kapitan si (former mayor Vicente) Emano og Rufus. Ma-o tong among silbing coalition,” Gan said.
Moreno ally Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr.’s count is different though. He said there are 42 barangay chairpersons either identified with the Emano or Rodriguez groups, and 38 are with Moreno.
“Solid gyud nang 38 ka bo-ok nga iya ni Mayor Moreno,” said Lao.
The incumbent Liga president, Councilor Yan Lam Lim, rose to become the association’s leader and representative to the city council with the support of the Padayon Pilipino. Lim is the chairman of Barangay 40.
But Councilor Lao Jr. said Lim could be challenged by Barangay 33 chairman Conrad Lim or Barangay 21 chairperson Gilda Go.
Councilor Enrico Salcedo, another administration ally, said he has not heard of Go being talked about as a potential candidate for Liga president but he confirmed that the name of Conrad Lim has surfaced as the next potential bet of the Padayon Pilipino.
“Akong nadunggan si kapitan Conrad Lim, gusto mag-ABC (Liga) president,” Salcedo said. “Hino-on, daghan pa man mahitabo gikan karon hangtud sa adlaw sa ABC election.”
The Liga elections would take place in August, a month after the new set of barangay officials have assumed their posts this June 30.
Councilor Gan said Kauswagan barangay chairman Pedro Balite, who briefly represented the association in the city council, may or may not seek the Liga presidency.
Meanwhile, administration ally Marycor Calizo, barangay chairperson of Patag, has expressed no interest on the Liga presidency, according to her husband Councilor Romeo Calizo.
Ms. Calizo once served as a member of the city council. She was with the Padayon Pilipino but she subsequently moved to the Moreno group.
“Ang akong naduggang gikan niya nga mag-concentrate nalang siya sa pagserbisyo sa Barangay Patag kay iyang gusto nga madayon gayud kanang plano nga construction sa national high school sa among barangay,” said Councilor Calizo.
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