Gov. Gwen Garcia’s message to 1,044 barangay captains and barangay councilors was crystal clear: serve the people, regardless of political affiliations.
“Hagit nako sa tanan: talikdan ta na ang mangil-ad nga pamulitika. Talikdan ta na ang mga pamaagi sa kanhing nanglabay nga panahon kon diin ang tabang ug pagtagad alang lamang sa atong mga kaalyado sa politika. Ang kontra atong paantuson,” Gov. Gwen said in a jam-packed Iloilo Convention Center.
The Governor is the keynote speaker of the convention of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) Cebu Federation, led by Board Member Celestino Martinez III. She was joined by Board Member Glenn Soco and her daughter, Carissa Garcia, second nominee of Ako Bisaya Partylist.
The governor was referring to the old practice of elected officials who only serve the people who voted for them but would shun away those who did not, calling this “ugly politics” that has perpetuated the poverty of some.
“Talikdan ta na ang maong pamaagi: kinaraan, ngil-ad nga pamaagi, bahig-bahig, color-coding nga pamolitika,” Gov. Gwen said.
The Governor is not just preaching from an ivory tower. Any observer of Cebu politics would know that she has openly called on and has shown willingness to work with all elected officials in Cebu Province after every election, whether they be political allies or not.
This is manifested in how she has consistently prioritized projects and infrastructure development in the Camotes Group of Islands whose four mayors were not her allies during the May 2022 elections.
“You cannot have good governance with ugly politics. And you cannot have development without good governance,” she added, referencing the convention’s theme, “Barangay Synergy: Paths to Good Governance and Development Convention 2025.” | IPA with reports from JMT
