BOPK slate undergoes drug test

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, chairperson of local party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, and Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar yesterday led the slate in submitting to a drug test initiated by the PNP Crime Laboratory and the City Office of Substance Abuse Prevention.

This is in compliance with the drug test requirement in the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy before the Commission on Elections. Not one of the candidates present was found to be positive of illegal drug use.

Among those who underwent the drug test were reelectionists Vice Mayor Michael "Mike" Rama, and some city councilors.

Newcomers in the BOPK slate who also submitted themselves to said drug test are businessman Ricardo "Ritchie" Osmeña, son of former vice mayor Renato "Jingjing" Osmeña; Basak Pardo barangay captain Robert Cabarrubias, and Banilad barangay captain Lea Ouano-Japson, daughter of the late Cebu City councilor Ananias Ouano.

Candidates who failed to join the BOPK drug test yesterday were councilors Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba who is in Cotabato City, and Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa who is in China for a business trip.

"I'm flattered of course nga giapil ko. Siguro ang akong matampo nga ako'y mo-represent sa women's sector ug ang livelihood siguro maoy atong hatagan og priority," Japson said.

"Eversince dugay na kaayo ko's BOPK and with my presence siguro makatabang ko sa pag-develop sa Information Technology sa kabarangay," Cabarrubias said. He was the one who initiated the barangay dot net program of the Cebu City government.

The BOPK slate is set to file their COCs on March 29, on the last day of filing. While the Genuine Opposition group headed by businessman and sportsman Jonathan "Atan" Guardo will file COCs on March 28. - Ramil V. Ayuman/MEEV