Trade Group Drops one BOPK bet from Endorsement

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is supporting the candidacy of Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña and to most of his fellow candidates under the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK).

Of the 20 BOPK candidates vying for different elective positions in Cebu City during the forthcoming May 13 Automated Local and National Elections, only former councilor Nestor Archival will not be endorsed by the labor union to its 18,000 members in the city, because ALU-TUCP will include one councilorial candidate from Team Rama.

Art Barrit, head of the labor union’s education department, had explained to Osmeña that they cannot endorse all the candidates of the BOPK because they have decided to support the candidacy of Boobi Kintanar whose grandfather Isidro Kintanar helped DYLA in securing its franchise.

Osmeña was given the chance to decide who of his fellow candidates that will be excluded from the endorsement and the lawmaker decided that it will be Archival because he will still win even without the support of the labor union.

The lawmaker said Archival is always on the top of the surveys conducted among the councilorial candidates in the city’s north district.

“Bisan pa og dili iapil pag-endorse si Archival sa ALU-TUCP sigurado gihapon siya nga modaug,” Osmeña said while smiling.

Reelectionist mayor Michael Rama did not give quick reaction about the endorsement of the labot union to his rival.

ALU-TUCP officials have decided to endorse Osmeña and his slate because during his stint as mayor of Cebu City he helped the interest of the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation (OPASCOR) to retain its services at the port area.

OPASCOR is one of the affiliates of the ALU-TUCP.