Anabelle backs Binay and Team Rama slate

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuana actress Annabelle Rama, cousin of incumbent Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, officially endorsed United Nationalist Alliance presidential bet Jejomar Binay and the whole slate of Partido Panaghiusa-Team Rama in the coming elections.

In a press conference yesterday, Annabelle said although she won't give campaign funds to his cou-sin anymore, campaigning for the party is enough.

"I don't have to donate to Team Rama kasi ang akong kaugalingon donation naa na, akong plete ug akong hotel, rent-a-car, kaon pa gyud nako, wala g'yud ko mangayo ni Mike bisa’g singko. Mao na akong donation sa Team Rama, ang akong pag-anhi diri ug ang pag-anhi sa akong pamilya, ako gihapon mobayad nila," she told reporters.

She said her family will also be here on May 6 to campaign for Team Rama for free, adding that she no longer invited several actors and actresses to campaign for Team Rama because it would cost more.

She also said she was asked to campaign for a politician but she declined.

"Somebody offered me P5 million para mag-campaign lang, magdaldal lang sa stage but ang kandidato nga nikuha nako, wala man ko kahibaw sa background. Lisod kaayo. Kay Mike ug Binay nalang ko bisa'g wala'y bayad," she said.

Annabelle said she believes the mayor no longer needs her help in campaigning, but she still offered.

"He doesn't need me. Pero gusto ko mag-landslide para dili tikason. Si Mike, maayo nga mayor kay dili man corrupt," she added.

Annabelle said both Binay and Mike came from poor families, adding that both also have helped poor families when they became public servants through their programs.

Annabelle also said she chose not to run for public office this election because she realized that there are more "traitors" in Cebu.

"Dili nako mobalik og lansar kay akong mga tao kaestorya mga baga'g nawong, traydor, mukhang pera, pera lang ang gusto, kuwarta lang ang gusto," she said, citing a local politician who transferred from Team Rama to Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan. She said she gave a "huge" campaign fund to this politician.

Annabelle also hit former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia for not supporting Binay, who was there for her when Garcia was suspended.

She said she has been in Cebu City for a week already and has attended the rallies of Team Rama.

Rama ran as Cebu City north district representative in 2013 but lost to Raul del Mar, getting only around 30,000 votes to Del Mar's over 120,000. —(FREEMAN)