Bucao: Bid for mayorship is for ‘every Talisaynon’

TALISAY City Vice Mayor Alan Bucao clarified Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, that his bid for the mayoralty post in Talisay City is for the Talisaynons and not just for the city’s 22 barangay captains.

Bucao in a Facebook post said, “I am here not to please the 22 barangay captains. I am here for the welfare of every Talisaynon.”

Earlier, Talisay Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr., who heads the Alayon Party, said the 22 village chiefs wanted him to field another candidate for the mayoralty post and let Bucao finish his last term as vice mayor.

Gullas said the village chiefs wanted his wife, Rhea, to run for city mayor.

In the same Facebook post, Bucao expressed his thanks to Mayor Samsam and Rep. Eduardo Gullas for “seeing the potential in me of becoming the next mayor of the City of Talisay.”

Bucao said his more than three decades of public service will attest to his ability and the things he has done to improve the city.

“Yes, I sincerely accept the fact that the 22 barangay chiefs wanted me to continually serve as the vice mayor of this city and that they’re not in support of my mayoral race; however, I am here not just for the 22 barangay captains. I am here not to please the 22 barangay kapitans whom I respect and value as well as their opinions,” Bucao said.

He said it is every barangay official’s duty not to be reliant on the vested interests of any political party but to prioritize the welfare of the people.

“I am for every Talisaynon. I am standing and running for the mayoral race for the entire welfare of the whole city,” Bucao said.

Bucao added that his respect and honor is still with Mayor Samsam to serve all Talisaynons with utmost passion.

Gullas, in an earlier statement, clarified that he endorsed Bucao to the political leaders in the city as the party’s mayoralty candidate.

The village chiefs cited that they wanted Gullas’ program and projects in the barangays to continue. This was one of the reasons why they refused to endorse Bucao.

Bucao has accused Gullas of reneging on his and his grandfather’s promise that the former would serve as the party’s standard bearer in the 2022 local elections. (MVG)