Young not giving up, plans protest

CEBU, Philippines - Outgoing Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Young is still not conceding despite last Thursday's proclamation of his opponent Councilor Edgar Labella as vice mayor-elect of Cebu City.

"We refuse to concede at least for mayor and vice mayor positions. We received several reports of manipulation. But we are still on the process of filtering and investigating. Our lawyers are getting affidavits from witnesses," the outvoted Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan candidate told reporters.

Pre-shaded ballots favoring Labella and reelected mayor Michael Rama are among the irregularities noted by their party, he alleged, based on information relayed by a private employee and a senior citizen.

He further alleged that Team Rama was involved in a connivance with Board of Election Inspectors, whom he described as "gipalit" following a P10,000 Christmas bonus.

"I don't want to drag the teachers down. But we are investigating their possible involvement," he said.

Young said he will request the Comelec to conduct a manual recount if votes in ballots rejected by PCOS machines reach 1,000.

Young claimed that he received reports that there were many ballots not scanned by the PCOS machines probably because voters just shaded a small portion of the oval, not enough for the scanners to detect.

"They (Comelec) cannot tell us how many. We understand that they are busy so we are going to wait for their answer. Bisan wala na basaha sa (PCOS) machine, mibotar bya tong mga tawhana," Young said.

When asked what he would do if a manual recount pushes through and Labella still comes out on top Young just said he would "cry".

Rama denied dirty tactics led to his and Labella's proclamation.

"Luoyang Michael Rama mao pa'y giguba, mao pa'y tikasan, how can that be possible nga kanang vote buying should only come from a group that has a lot of money and I don't claim having money," Rama told reporters.

Labella promised he will try to convince BOPK-allied councilors to support the administration of Rama.

"First of all, we are all Cebuanos. Political affiliations are nothing. We should work together for the betterment of Cebu city. I will convince my fellow members of the legislative department, as their head, to support the projects of mayor Rama. If they see that something is wrong, then they talk. But if the project is good for the city, why obstruct the mayor?" he told reporters.

Labella added that the upcoming council will be more participative and objective as opposed to being obstructionist, the same promise that he delivered during campaign.

Meanwhile, Team Rama bet for council Gerry Guardo has conceded.

"The people of the north district have spoken and I respect their decision not to elect me as their representative at the council," the incumbent Sambag 1 barangay captain said.

Guardo stressed he will still continue his public service since he is still a barangay captain until the next barangay elections.

After that, the third termer barangay chief executive has no plans yet, but he hinted at his wife's plans.

"The clamor now is for my wife to replace me as barangay captain. We'll see when the barangay elections pursues this October," he added.

Reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama has been proclaimed already by the BEC after getting over 6,000 votes over his political opponent Tomas R. Osmeña.  (FREEMAN)