Three weeks before the May 9 elections, the Baguio-Benguet chapter of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan announced it had switched its alliance from presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.
KBL-Baguio Benguet Chairman Bernard Ellamil, in a press conference April 13, said the chapter’s decision was due to the lack of support from the Marcos camp.
He clarified the decision was not sanctioned by the national KBL leadership while the chapter members are yet to talk with candidates under KBL in Baguio and Benguet.
He said the group has over 3,000 members in Baguio City alone.
“The first activities that the group conducted is done voluntarily. Those who have funds would be the ones to take care of the expenses of the group,” Ellamil said, adding they started gathering support for BBM as early as September last year.
He said they have been waiting for support from the BBM camp, but they were only given promises.
This was echoed by Mary Jane Bagay, KBL coordinator for Baguio City’s District 9 stating that the Marcos camp has not talked to them since September last year. She said they have not received any of the allowance that was promised to them.
Susan Matic District 7 coordinator, said she is the first in their group to transfer to Moreno camp after much thought.
Chairman of Alliance for Isko Movement-Cordillera, Aries Mendoza, said they welcome the transfer of support of the group.
He said he was also a former chairman of the Koalisyong Bongbong Marcos or KBM but then switched his support to Moreno upon careful evaluation of the various presidential candidates.
He believed that Moreno’s management of Manila, which is his own accomplishment, would be expanded throughout the country in case he wins in the elections.
Mendoza said the former KBL- Baguio Benguet supporters would then be adopted under the Alliance for Isko Movement in the Cordillera. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 27, 2024
