Tagbilaran City Vice Mayor Jose Anotnio Veloso can still be a possible running mate of first termer City Mayor John Gessnell Baba Yap when he runs for his second term in next year’s elections
This was bared by City Kagawad Beben Inting who is one of those mentioned as a possible running mate of Yap. He categorically said that he is not aiming for the vice mayoralty post as he will take a rest in politics after serving as city legislator for the past nine years.
Inting told The Chronicle that under the Yap administration, there remains that call for unity among those having the “genuine heart to serve the city the way Mayor Yap is doing.”
He said that Veloso who won as vice mayor under the Liberal Party is still welcomed to join the Yap slate in next year’s elections. However, political undertones indicate that Veloso is keeping a distance from Mayor Yap’s group with an indication that he might run for mayor against Yap in the 2016 polls. This, Veloso did not confirm nor deny,
Political observers noted that in several occasions Veloso is not seen during gatherings where he is supposed to appear in tandem with Mayor Yap being the second ranking official in the city, Aides of the city mayor said that Veloso has always been invited but opted not to heed on the mayor’s invitations.
On the event that Veloso will run for mayor, three names surfaced as possible running mate of Mayor Yap in next year’s elections, namely, City kagawad Adam Jala, City Administrator Edi Borja and Kagawad Inting.
Mayor Yap, for his part, remain silent on his possible running mate while maintaining his political motto of “unity” among leaders regardless of political color.
Aside from inting who issued the disclaimer as a vice mayoralty contender, Kagawad Jala and Administrator Borja refrained from issuing their respective statements at this point in time.
It maybe recalled that Veloso was the running mate of City kagawad Augustinus Gonzaga. He defeated Yap’s running mate former City Kagawad Kit Oppus. The last elections was a three cornered fight with former Vice Mayor Jaz Montes as the third vice mayoralty bet with Dr. Abe Lim who tried his luck for city mayor with the hope of succeeding his younger brother, former Mayor Dan Lim.
The Lim family feud started during the last elections when Mayor Yap was running against his uncle.
Highly placed sources said that this feud will remain in next year’s elections as former Mayor Dan Lim will run against his nephew, Mayor Yap.