Faelnar Eyes October Election If No Meddling Assured

Former Guadalupe Barangay Captain Eugenio “Jingjing” Faelnar yesterday said he has no plan to run again as leader of the city’s biggest barangay during the forthcoming barangay elections, unless if the well known political leaders would assure that they will not interfere into the election process.

During the 2010 barangay elections, Faelnar’s son Dino was defeated by Michael Gacasan who used to be one of the councilmen in Barangay Guadalupe because Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña fully campaigned for Gacasan.

Several barangay captains who are supporters of Mayor Michael Rama strongly believed that the mayor will support Faelnar once the latter would decide to have a “face off” with Gacasan if the barangay elections scheduled on October will push through.

During the last May 13 Automated National and Local Elections, Faelnar was one of Rama’s leaders in Barangay Guadalupe that is why the mayor successfully neutralized the influence of Osmeña in his own barangay.

“Dili g’yud ko modagan, wala g’yud na sa akong huna-huna. Kanindot na man sa akong kahimtang karon nganong magproblema pa man ko,” Faelnar told the reporters when he visited City Hall yesterday.

When asked what will make him to change his decision, Faelnar quickly said “Aw kon dili lang g’yud manghilabot ang mga dagkung politiko sa eleksyon sa among barangay, pasagdan ra mi nila, kana tingali basin makombinsir ko.”

Faelnar is referring to both Rama and Osmeña, who used to be his allies while he was still a member of the Cebu City Council as ex-officio member being the president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).

Several barangay captains have convinced Faelnar to run as barangay captain in the forthcoming barangay elections so that he could be the next ABC president to replace Councilor Michael Ralota.

But Faelnar just smiled to the suggestions of his former colleagues while they were discussing political issues inside the Office of the Mayor yesterday.

There were other rumors that because the three-term (nine years) of Councilor Eduardo “Edu” Rama will end on June 30, 2013, his close relatives will ask him to run as barangay captain of Basak-San Nicolas replacing Barangay Captain George Rama who is no longer eligible for reelection.

But since the barangay elections would still be on October and Edu Rama’s term as city councilor will end next month, the plan is that he will be designated to head the Cebu City Barangay Affairs, a division directly under the Office of the Mayor.

A source within the City Hall said designating Edu Rama as head of the Barangay Affairs would make him close to the barangay captains and once he will be elected as barangay captain of Basak-San Nicolas, it would be very easy for him to be elected as ABC president.