Esparcia, Judith adopt new party-list ally

ABANDONED by their own coalition as punishment for breaking away from their original party, reelectionist Cagayan de Oro City Councilors Malvern Esparcia and James Judith have discovered a new ally – Partido ng Bagong Pilipino.
PBP is aiming for a congressional seat this coming May midterm elections and its first nominee is a former Comelec commissioner, Goyo Larrazabal.
In January 2024, Esparcia and Judith bolted from the then opposition Centrist Democratic Party (CDP) to join the majority bloc of Mayor Rolando Uy.
Their actions have apparently miscalculate as now, Uy’s group has allied with its erstwhile opponent CDP for the May 12 polls.
In October last year prior to the filing of candidacies, CDP led by Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez reportedly pressured Uy not to include Esparcia and Judith in their slate.
Rodriguez had not minced words in venting her anger against the two.
“We give (our) all, the two are the privileged councilors. Kung hakog ka nga tao you will not remember the people that helped you kay hakog ka man, wala man kay konsensya, wala kay prinsipyo, (ug) wala kay dignidad,” Rodriguez said.
Lawyer Adonis Arc Gumahad, former LTFRB 10 director Mandangan Darimbang, former Nazareth barangay chair Maximo Rodriguez III and former Barangay 1 chair Tony Abejuela were invited to replace them in their slate instead.
With this development, Esparcia and Judith have been campaigning nonstop as independent candidates.
Larrazabal said the two councilors vibe well with the thrust of the partylist.
The new partylist Partido ng Bagong Pilipino (PBP) will be legislating for more access to potable water in underserved barangays in the country once it wins.