Rama eyes majority bloc next term

CEBU, Philippines - After the presentation of Team Rama’s complete slate yesterday, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is confident that the team will get hold of the majority bloc of the City Council next term.

Rama, who is seeking for reelection, introduced yesterday the complete list of Team Rama candidates for the north and south district in time for the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy next week.

“Today, I have completed the presentation of the Team Rama… This is it. This is the team. If all will vote for them then the opponent will be wiped out. That is what we are seeing beyond, they will be wiped out,” said Rama.

Under the present legislative body, Team Rama is outnumbered having only seven allies out of the 17 city councilor seats.

Last September 27, Rama first revealed his team’s candidates for the south district. They are reelectionist councilors David Tumulak, Hanz Nendell Abella, and James Cuenco; former city councilors Jose Daluz III, Jocelyn Pesquera, Eduardo Rama, Renato “JunJun” Osmeña Jr. and  Inayawan Barangay Captain Lutherlee “Lot-Lot” Ignacio-Soon.

A week after, he announced the team’s bets for councilors in the north district naming Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman, former congressman Pastor “Jong” Alcover, former city councilor Edwin Jagmoc, Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera, and Edgardo “JP” Labella, Jr., son of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

Former mayor Alvin Garcia will also be Team Rama’s bet as for the congressional seat for the north district while incumbent Councilor Gerardo Carillo will run for congress for the south district.

The complete slate will also have their oathtaking today during the United Nationalist Alliance regional launch.

 “Despite the tyranny of numbers (at the city council), we were able to make the council intact but how I wish that we can only have a council that will not only be legislators, but the council that cooperate with the mayor… There is more a compelling reason for us to give the council that would formulate an executive and legislative agenda for the betterment of the people of Cebu,” said reelectionist Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

Rama said he is more confident this time that the team’s bets for councilors will take over the legislative body.

“Let election come today, all of them will not make it,” Rama said, referring to the rival political camp, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.

In a separate interview, BOPK founder and former mayor Tomas Osmeña only laughed at the completed lineup of the other party.

“Naa silay daghang recycled losers didto sa pikas uy. Proven losers, dili proven winners… He can say whatever he wants,” he said, adding that only the people can decide on who will sit on the elective positions.

Although BOPK’s lineup has already been completed, Osmeña said he will not reveal it yet since he has reserved slots for two candidates from Team Rama. It may only be known next week during the filing of the COC.  (FREEMAN)