Rama shrugs off LP meeting snub

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he does not think much about not being invited to the Liberal Party meeting last Monday.

Rama said there is nothing to be alarmed about since he chooses not to focus on politics as of the moment.

“If they are there for politics, it is something I don’t have to make an issue about,” Rama said.

He said that the meeting was on the provincial level so he will not be surprised to see his predecessor in the picture.

“They’ve always been wanting to get involved with the province why would I be surprised about it?” Rama said.

The mayor said that now is not the time to pay attention to politics because one year is still a long way to go and he would rather devote his time to serving his constituents rather than preparing for the election.

Last Monday, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo was in Cebu to meet local LP members.

Robredo also announced that Hilario “Junjun” Davide III will be appointed as special projects coordinator for Central Visayas of the DILG. He will also be commissioner in the National Anti-Poverty Commission, together with Pagtambayayong Foundation Inc. President Francisco Fernandez.

Present during the meeting were Davide, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. and son Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha and her father Antonio Yapha, Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante and Provincial Board Member Arleigh Sitoy.

Also present in the meeting were LP members who ran but lost during the May 2010 elections, businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr. and Cora Lou Kintanar.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña and former north district representative Raul del Mar were also there but had a separate meeting with Robredo.

Fernandez was quoted in a newspaper report that the meeting last Monday between Osmeña, Del Mar and Robredo was to fix the rift between LP and the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan which soured after Osmeña reportedly had a heated argument with LP leader Manuel Roxas.

Rama yesterday said that he did not have a chance to meet with Robredo because he did not even know that the latter was in Cebu.

“I didn’t even know he was around. Nobody told me so there was no chance (to meet him),” Rama said.

Rama also admitted that he met with Jonathan Guardo to ask his support. But he said they have not talked about the possibility of Guardo joining his slate.

“I am asking his assistance just as I am asking everybody’s assistance,” Rama said. Guardo ran against Osmeña in the last election but lost.

He also admitted meeting former mayor and opposition leader Alvin Garcia every now and then but declined to provide details of their meeting.

Rama said that their camp is about to complete their list of candidates for the May 2013 election.

“I already gave them (candidates) the marching order to start making their presence felt,” Rama said. –/BRP (FREEMAN)