Baguio Day, a loyalty check for LP members

By Larry Madarang 

BAGUIO CITY—As the City of Baguio marked its 106^th Charter Anniversary factions of the Liberal Party here made use of the occasion as a form of loyalty check among barangay officials, so it seems.

After the usual civic parade, barangay officials were noticed to be divided on where they would go for lunch as two perceived contending candidates for the 2016 lone congressional seat earlier sent them invitations.

Baguio Rep. Nicasio Aliping, spent lunch with barangay officials at the Baguio Convention Center, while businessman Mark Go celebrated lunch in Navy Base.

Aliping and Go were rivals during the 2013 local elections.  Aliping obtained 38, 762 votes as of the official Commission on Election count with Go following closely with less than 5,000 votes.

Aliping has since taken his oath as member of the Liberal Party, a move that was not well accepted by those who were under the local LP slate in 2013.

Cracks within the LP were visible as early as 2014.

Earlier, Vice Mayor Edison Bilog warned of a breakup over disputes as to who will occupy the vacant Liberal Party seat in the city council.

Bilog, together with the local executive council of the local liberals recommended Go.

Aliping on the other hand recommended Lilia Yaranon, a former councilor who now seats as member of the city council.