Rama has yet to pick Cuenco's replacement

CEBU, Philippines - The Team Rama has yet to decide who to fill in the slot vacated by former south district Congressman Antonio Cuenco after the latter has backed out from the congressional race.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who just arrived from Xiamen, China, said he respects Cuenco’s decision but refused to discuss about it further.

Rama met his core group yesterday morning and started discussing possible replacement for the congressional slot. Councilor Jose Daluz III was endorsed by Cuenco in lieu of him.

Daluz, a former member of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, joined the Team Rama when Cuenco joined force with the mayor for the 2013 elections.

Daluz, a lawyer, is on his last term as city councilor in the south district. He is the regional coordinator of PDP-Laban.

Rama said he has no problem with Daluz as a candidate so as with the other possible candidates endorsed to him. He said anybody can run as long as he or she can stand against their opponent.

“Hoping we can put all these into some level of what we call finality especially when October will come,” Rama said. October is the filing of certificate of candidacy.

The mayor said they will announce their final candidates as soon as they complete the consultation with their members and supporters up to the barangay level.

Rama refused to comment when asked if he is considering Pagcor manager Renato “Junjun” Osmeña, Jr., son of former Cebu City Vice Mayor Renato Osmeña, for the position.

“I don’t want to make any comment lest I will be misinterpreted by my own Team Rama. We still have to talk with my councilors even with my allies in the barangays,” Rama said.

Rama said that the change in their line-up is not a surprise because change is the only thing constant in politics.

When asked if he is also open to adopting former Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Undersecretary Aristotle “Totol” Batuhan, Rama also remained tight-lipped.

“As far as I’m concerned, you better ask him because it will be very difficult to make some statement while I have not been talking with him. It would be better if it should come from him. I don’t want to be assuming because I just arrived today,” Rama said.

Batuhan, in a phone interview, said there is no ongoing discussion between him and Team Rama.

Batuhan, whose posters and billboards now start to manifold in the south district, said he will focus first in his advocacies in the barangays. – (FREEMAN)