Ong won’t run for VM in 2019 polls

CEBU, Philippines — Ex-officio Cebu City Councilor Franklyn Ong has no plans of running for higher office despite “clamor” from barangay captains allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Ong, the Kasambagan village chief and Association of Barangay Councils (ABC)-Cebu City Chapter president, said he will not run for vice mayor in the 2019 midterm elections.

“Dili lang, I want to do more things pa for the barangays. I just want to focus as ABC president for now,” Ong told The FREEMAN.

Ong, an ally of BOPK, is still on his first term as ABC president. He was elected on July 30 this year.

Some barangay captains reportedly want Ong to run for the city’s second highest position and be the running mate of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who heads BOPK.

“I heard some but I would not consider it as official,” he said.

Osmeña earlier said he wants Councilor David Tumulak and Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos as possible vice mayoralty bets of the administration bloc.

Tumulak and delos Santos were former allies of Team Rama (now Barug Team Rama- Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan) before joining BOPK.

Tumulak currently sits as chairman of the committee on public order and safety as well as deputy mayor for police matters. Delos Santos, on the other hand, is the chairperson of the committee on health, hospital services and sanitation.

Councilor Sisinio Andales of BOPK said he has no idea yet as to who will be the mayor’s running mate in next year’s elections.

“Wala pako’y idea kinsa’y running mate ni Mayor Tommy, but I am sure he is doing a survey secretly,” he told The FREEMAN.

“Publicly, I will not reveal yet and I do not want to pre-empt Tommy’s running mate. Anyway, layo pa ang filing sa Certificate of Candidacy (COC),” he added.

Councilor Joy Augustus Young said BOPK members are yet to discuss about it.

For Barug Team Rama PDP Laban), incumbent Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella will run against Osmeña in the coming polls. Former city mayor Michael Rama, on the other hand, will be Labella’s running mate. (FREEMAN)