Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza meets with new allies, who are former supporters of businessman Efrain Pelaez, at her office. (CDN PHOTO/ NORMAN MENDOZA)
Businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr.’s former campaign manager and spokesman have switched sides to the camp of his rival Mayor Paz Radaza.
Jonax Igot, former campaign manager, and Joe Ycong, Pelaez’s spokesman, and 30 barangay leaders representing all barangays of the city went to Radaza’s office and pledged their support for her reelection bid.
Radaza welcomed and thanked them for recognizing her as the Liberal Party’s elected official.
“I thanked all of you for recognizing the developments and the good governance in my administration. I ask you to work hand in hand with me to better serve the general public,” she said in a brief dialogue with her new allies.
Radaza promised the barangay leaders she would give her best service to the people, transparency in her administration and more developments in the city.
I got explained that they served as the facilitators for Pelaez during his campaign and signed a memorandum of agreement to help him in the 2013 election.
But when they learned that he will be running again in next year’s election, they decided not to support him since he is not the elected official under LP.
Ycong, on the other hand, said they have seen the good governance practices of Radaza’s administration and how it has brought much development to the city.
Ycong assured they can mobilize supporters like what they did for Pelaez in the 2013 elections.
When sought for comment, Pelaez said he was the one who expelled Igot, Ycong and all barangay leaders.
“They always keep asking anything like motorcycle, gasoline, salary, etc.” he said.
Pelaez said he can go on with his candidacy for the coming election without them.