But congressman sticks with Barug: KUSUG eyes Edu

CEBU, Philippines — Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Kugi, Uswag Sugbo (KUSUG) party president, disclosed yesterday that they have considered incumbent south district Rep. Eduardo “Edu” Rama to run under their banner.

It was also yesterday, however, that Edu announced that he is running under the political banner of Partido BARUG–Team Rama, which suspended Mayor Michael Rama heads as its president.

In an interview yesterday, Garcia confirmed that they will be filing their certificates of candidacy on the last day, or on Oct. 8, 2024.

Despite Atty. Jose “Joey” Daluz III saying that Garcia is running for mayor with him as vice mayor, Garcia said they will have a formal declaration of their coalition with Panaghiusa today.

Last Monday, Daluz confirmed that the coalition of KUSUG and Panaghiusa is already considered a “done deal”.

Garcia admitted that they are looking into the possibility of having Daluz as his running mate, with him as the KUSUG standard bearer.

“So we can have a formidable team in 2025,” Garcia said.

In the same interview, he confirmed that incumbent north district Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar will be their official candidate for the north district race, and that they are considering Edu as their congressional candidate for the south district.

Edu is the nephew of Mayor Rama, who is currently serving a six-month preventive suspension and an estranged political ally of Garcia, who was Rama’s runningmate in 2022.

“Why? Because when we took our oath already as Partido Federal, naa man na silay coalition with Lakas, among others.

So, there is already a rule. I don't know if it's already written or unwritten, og naa ganiy incumbent nga part of the coalition nga mudagan,” Garcia said.

He said that is aside from the fact that Edu is his “good friend” and that he sees how Edu has helped Cebu City.

“So, there is a big chance and possibility that we will be endorsing Edu Rama as congressman in the south district,” he further said.

Rama, however, announced on his Facebook page yesterday that Edu is Barug Team Rama’s candidate for the south district congressional seat.

Edu was also seen during the livestream of the signing of the official coalition of BARUG and Bag-ong Sugbo, which is led by Liga ng Barangay president and City Council ex-officio member Franklyn Ong, who was announced as their group’s official candidate for north district representative.

With this, Garcia said he would respect Edu’s decision, adding that Barangay Basak Pardo Captain Dave Tumulak is their alternative candidate.

Garcia joins partido federal

Meanwhile, Garcia likewise announced yesterday that he took oath under the President’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas as KUSUG’s national party.

Sought for his reaction, former customs commissioner Yogi Felimon Ruiz, who had already announced his interest to run for Cebu City mayor months back, said he did not know that Garcia took oath under the same national party he is also a member of.

It was even reported that Ruiz took his oath as the regional chairman of PFP, with former Catanduanes governor Leandro Verceles, Jr. as the one who led his induction into the party.

“Depende sa decision sa President,” Ruiz said on who would be the PFP’s official candidate for mayor.

Ruiz said he would have to defer to the wisdom of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. to determine who will be the standard bearer of the party in the Cebu City mayoral race.

He, however, said that it is still possible that there are two standard bearers for the same party.

“I will talk personally with the president. Molarga ko,” he told reporters yesterday.

He said that political plans stay the same, adding that it will not change whichever political party he is in. He added, though, he wants to stay with the same political party.

“Some of these politicians, they took oath under PDP Laban last election…then karon tungod kay advantage sila ani nga political party…. I am not like that. I will stick with one party until the end of my political service,” Ruiz said.

Rama picks Dondon for vice mayor

On yesterday’s announcement of Barug’s coalition with Bag-ong Sugbo, it was formally announced that Acting Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros will be the party’s official candidate for the vice mayoral race. Hontiveros attended the signing via Zoom.

“Sa tan-aw nako kining grupoha, dako kaayo og ikatabang…mao nang mas mapalig-on ning maong alyansa and hopefully mas mapadako pa nato,” Edua said during the opening remarks.

He was also the one who officially welcomed Ong into the alliance, whose agreement stipulated that it has been duly recognized and registered as a regional political party with the Commission on Elections.

“Driven by the commonality of their vision and mission to serve the people with utmost dedication and sincere desire towards achieving an efficient and good governance which is indispensable in bringing the City of Cebu to a new height, as most livable, progressive, economically sustainable and globally competitive city,” read a portion of the alliance agreement, as the reason for the creation of the coalition. — (FREEMAN)