Several groups and
personalities on Friday, July 20, launched the “Alyansang Bol-anon para sa
Kausaban” (Abaka) to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration's
so-called war on drugs and corruption.
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio
Evasco, Jr. likened the movement to abaca fiber, a plant which is natural
resource of the Philippines, considered as the strongest natural fiber that is
suitable for rope making.
“Kining ‘ABAKA’ o Alyansang Bol-Anon para sa
Kausaban’ usa kini nga pundok multi-sectoral gikan sa laing-laing sector sa
Bohol aron sa ingon niana,maghawiray kita sa atong mga kamot,atong buhi-on ang
atong mga damgo sa kausaban.hangtud ang kausaban mahitabo sa atong lalawigan sa
tukmang panahon,” Evasco explained.
The organic members of
Abaca are Norris Oculam, as chairman; Donald Borja Sevilla, Boy Pernia, Leon
Calipusan, Msgr. Jeff Malanog, Argeo
Melisimo, Nonnie Orillosa, Dr. Lorna Rances, Joy Sevilla, Berting
Datahan, Dr. Atup, Fr. Warli Salise, Jr., and Holger Horn, et al—as members.
The launching was graced
by the presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte-Carpio.
Even she figured
prominently in surveys, Mayor Sara reiterated that she had no interest to run
for Senate in May 2019 elections.
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Presidential daughter and
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio graced the launching
of “Alyansang
Bol-anon para sa Kausaban” (Abaka), a multi-sectoral alliance,
on Friday, July
20, in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, to establish an anti-drug and
–corruption
organization in the province. Leo Udtohan
“My plan is to run for
mayor of Davao City for the 2019 elections,” Mayor Sara told Bohol reporters
during the launching of the Alyansang Bol-anon para sa Kausaban (Abaka) in
which she was the guest speaker.
She said she felt she was
still effective as mayor of Davao City, a good neighbor to other places in the
country.
“I feel that Davao City
can help other LGUs with all the years of best practices and all the years of
good projects that Davao City LGU had produced. We think that and I think I can help more if I am mayor and ask
everybody to come to Davao and look at what the local government has done
for Davao City,” she added.
Mayor Sara told more than
1,000 participants of Abaka that the senate is not for her since she is a
silent type.
“Feel nako wala koy
buhaton sa Senado,” she said.
Abaka is the umbrella of
the various political personalities and persuasions identified with President
Duterte.
Abaka members want to continue
the aggressive campaign on drugs and stop corruption in the province.
Bohol has been ranked
fifth in the Philippines and first in Central Visayas in terms of barangay drug
affectation percentage.
Last month, according to
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency provincial officer Nicolas Gomez, around 400
of 1,109 barangays in Bohol have been
recommended by the provincial government and the PDEA to be declared drug-free
by the multi-agency Regional Oversight Committee.
“This is not for 2019,
Abaka will support leaders which we believed can help Bohol,” said Norris
Oculam, chairman of Abaka.
“We are not relying on
politicians. This is a movement of the people regardless of political
affiliations,” he added.
Mayor Sara said since her
political party “Hugpong ngPagbabago,” which was recently approved by Commission on Elections (Comelec) as a
regional political party in Region 11, she
sought alliance with other parties and movements such as Abaka in Bohol.
Also present during the
Abaka launching were Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo,
Evasco, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernest Pernia, former Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) chair Francis Tolentino , presidential spokesman
Harry Roque, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)
Secretary Martin Andanar , PhilHealth board member Celestina
Dela Serna, special envoys to China Carlos Chan and Fernando “Ding” Borja, and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William
"Butch" Ramirez .
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Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio
|
In Bohol, only Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite, 2nd District Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, and at least eight mayors --Allen Ray Piezas of Clarin, Norman Palacio of Bilar, Jacinto Naraga of San Isidro, Casey Shaun Camacho of Getafe, Danny Guivencan of Dimiao, Juliet Dano of Sevilla, Jose Nicanor Tocmo of Corella and John Geesnell Yap II of Tagbilaran City, and some councilors and village officials, attended.
Businessman Lucio Lim, Jr,
of Lite Shipping, DA 7 Regional Director Salvador Diputado and wife
Alma, former Panglao Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan, lawyers Rain Calimbayan, Doni
Piquero and Danilo Bantugan, University of Bohol Registrar Leah Tirol-Magno and
hubby Art, Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado, Booy
village councilors Jun Telmo and Clement Ingking, Barangay Poblacion 1 captain Arlene Karaan, were also spotted during the
event.
Cebu
City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña and former Cebu Rep.
Rachel del Mar also came to Bohol to attend the activity.
Other politicians and
businessmen from Visayas and Mindanao also attended the launching.
Mayor Duterte also
surprised the audience by formally endorsing
former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair
Francis Tolentino , presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Presidential
Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar for
the senate in May 2019 elections.
Those who were present
cheered and reacted positively to Mayor Duterte’s endorsement.
“So, will have to wait and
see. But they (Roque, Andanar and
Tolentino) are testing the water if okay ba mudagan sila,” Mayor Duterte said.
Aside from Roque, Tolentino and Andanar, Mayor Sara also endorsed Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Senators JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara and Cynthia Villar.
Roque humbly thanked the
mayor for the endorsement.
“Ako po’y nagagalak and I
am humbled by the endorsement of Mayor Sara. Importante po sa akin ang suporta
ng paboritong anak ng ating president,” said Roque.
He said he would move
forward knowing that God has a plan.
“At ako po’y pinasa-Diyos
kung ano ang kinabukasan sa pulitika.
Bahala na ang Panginon but I am very thankful sa endorsement. Nung ako’y aktibisita di ko akalain na ako’y magiging member
ng kongreso, nung ako’y nasa kongreso di
ko akalain na ako’y maging miyembro ng gabinete. Di ko alam what God has to offer me, but Thy
will be done,” Roque added.
More than the launching,
the movement is also looking for a real Boholano (Wanted Tinuod Nga Bol-anon).
“Matinahoron, mahigugmaon
sa isig kaingon ug andam manalipod sa mga dinaogdaog.Kaliwat ni Dagohoy, sumpa
sa mga kurakot ug mapahimoslanon. Mao kini ang TINOOD NGA BOL-ANON,” Donad
Sevilla posted on Facebook.
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