For Cebu City north district Tom prefers Raul over Cutie

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña prefers former Rep. Raul del Mar over his daughter, incumbent Rep. Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” del Mar, as candidate of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) in the north district.

 “Raul’s seniority in the House will entitle him to top positions like deputy speaker and chair of the Commission on Appointments, positions he already held in the past. He is even within striking range as Speaker (Feliciano) Belmonte is going for the mayorship,” read Osmeña’s text message.

Raul fielded his daughter in 2010 after his term expired.

“Raul has an excellent service record like no absence in 20 years. He needs to push bills like making the road all the way to Lusaran a national road,” Osmena said.

The FREEMAN tried to contact the younger del Mar but she was not available for comment as of last night. Raul however was quoted in earlier reports that whoever has more time between him and his daughter to serve the people in the north district will run in the next elections.

Meanwhile, the BOPK and the Team Rama are said to be lobbying in Manila to get the official nomination of the ruling Liberal Party. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama went to Manila yesterday allegedly to make representation with the party leadership.

“October one pa man ang filing sa COC, ato silang pahinumduman nga Liberal Party ta (we have to remind them that we are Liberal Party). And they should be official enough to give me an answer. Di mahimo nga when I was running official man ko nipirma sa COC, importante kaayo nga i-clarify na nila. (It’s important that they should make clarification),” Rama said during a phone interview.

He however clarified that his business in Manila is in relation to the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System project, and not of his endorsement. When asked if he was concerned about the report that Osmeña has already gotten his endorsement from LP, Rama said he would not believe until there is an official communication from the party.

 “We need to clarify whether the communication was official,” Rama said.

Osmeña earlier said that LP officials asked him to fly to LP headquarters in Manila yesterday. He did not share what he would be doing there, but reports have it that he was going to get his certificate of nomination. —/FPL (FREEMAN)