By Junex Doronio 

IT’S GONNA BE AN EXCITING “NEW BATTLE OF MACTAN!”

This is the exhilarating anticipation of many residents in the highly urbanized city of Lapu-Lapu after they were turned off by what they call blatant meddling of local officials in the recently-concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) that was swept by candidates openly endorsed by Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan.

Talks have been swirling that in the upcoming 2025 polls, Ako Bisaya party-list Representative Sonny Lagon is now going to wrest the mayoral seat from Ahong Chan’s grip.

Learning from his former patron, the Radaza political dynasty that ruled for 18 long years, Chan is now building his dynasty with his wife Cindi as the incumbent representative of Lapu-Lapu City’s lone district, and daughter Daday who won as barangay captain of Basak, the largest in the 30 barangays of Lapu-Lapu City.

Local political observers said that Chan, a member of the PDP-Laban faction of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, will be facing a formidable opponent in Ako Bisaya party-list Rep. Sonny Lagon whose wife Daphne is the incumbent congresswoman of the 6th district of Cordova in Mactan island and Consolacion in Cebu island province.

The Lagon couple in the House of Representatives is more identified with Speaker Ferdinand Martin G.  Romualdez.

To recall, in April the Ako Bisaya party-list representative said the “involved leadership” of Romualdez has resulted in high survey ratings for the lower chamber and for the Speaker himself.

“And we, as members [of the House], emulate the diligence we see in our leaders. This is truly genuine leadership by example,” Sonny Lagon said.

Lagon, who is a vice chairman of the House Committees on Ways and Means and on Games and Amusement, stressed the “inspiring kind” of Romualdez’s leadership.

“What we have is an ‘involved leadership’ that allows House leaders and members a free rein on their respective duties and responsibilities without the need for micromanagement,” he noted.

Although Sonny Lagon has neither confirmed nor denied the rumors many Oponganons (residents of Lapu-Lapu City whose old name was Opon) now really want to see genuine change and development.

Not just in TikTok and claims by trolls.

Photo courtesy: Flickr

(ai/mnm)