MABALACAT, PAMPANGA – The political machinery of Cris Garbo (MCG) continues to unravel as barangay leaders, councilors, and hundreds of city hall workers shift their allegiance to the rising Aquino-Castro tandem.
Sources from the field confirm that several barangay captains and kagawad—once vocal supporters of Garbo—have formally endorsed Geld Aquino and Jun Castro. The growing list of local officials switching camps points to a deeper fracture within MCG’s grassroots network, a crucial base that once gave him a strong hold in local politics.
Adding to the blow is the public declaration of support from around 1,000 job order (JO) employees who now back the Aquino-Castro slate. For many of them, the shift is about survival and certainty.
“We still want to work at city hall, but we no longer feel secure under the Garbo administration,” said Boy Tolentino of Barangay Mabiga, speaking on behalf of fellow JO workers.
Within Garbo’s inner circle, the mood is reportedly tense. Insiders describe a candidate increasingly unsure of how to regain lost ground. Rumors of discontent among his councilor slate persist, with reports that some feel abandoned after being courted to join his ticket early in the campaign. These councilors, sources say, are now left to fend for themselves as Garbo focuses on solo engagements.
The recent endorsement of Aquino and Castro by Angeles City Mayor Pogi Lazatin further adds to Garbo’s mounting challenges. Observers say this kind of high-profile support often signals shifting momentum and boosts credibility for rising rivals.
Despite efforts by Garbo’s , internal cracks are becoming more visible by the day. With grassroots leaders defecting and workers voicing uncertainty, the campaign once seen as solid is now scrambling to stay afloat.