CEBU, Philippines - Has Councilor Mary Ann De Los Santos of Team Rama jumped ship to run with Councilor Margot Osmeña of the Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) in 2016?
Questions about this scenario surfaced when photos of the two councilors standing side by side with catchphrases like “M & M (Margot for Mayor, Mary Ann for Vice Mayor?) for BOPK in 2016?” found their way on social media.
Other photos show De Los Santos and Osmeña raising their hands together.
Based on posts by no less than BOPK-allied Councilors Alvin Dizon and Eugenio Gabuya on their individual Facebook accounts, the photos appear to have been taken during the councilors’ Christmas party at a private beach resort in Carmen.
Interviewed by The Freeman, De Los Santos said she remains an ally of Team Rama and simply laughed when asked if she will be shifting to and running under BOPK in 2016.
“Ang ako diha sa City Council nga kun makaayo sa kadaghanan, andam ko nga mosuporta kay mao man kana ang gipanum-paan nako isip konsehal,” De Los Santos said.
It can be recalled that De Los has been a staunch critic of Osmeña’s husband, former mayor Tomas Osmeña. She even challenged Tomas’ reelection in 2007 but lost the race, albeit winning in Barangay Lahug where she was sitting captain.
She eventually won a seat in the City Council in 2013 and observers say she has since developed friendship with Osmeña and other BOPK-allied councilors.
Councilor Ritchie Osmeña, who was not present during the activity in Carmen described De Los Santos as independent-minded who will not condone actions of her political party if she believes these will not benefit the public.
Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, and Councilor Dave Tumulak were also not present at the Christmas party. Rama said he was not informed about nor invited to the activity.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, another Team Rama-allied councilor told The Freeman that seve-ral allies of the mayor in the council are slowly shifting to BOPK.
“Kun sa pagsugod sa Team Rama upat ra kami kabuok, karon upat lang gihapon apan lahi na ang personalidad. Makita na kun dunay voting nga pagahimuon sa konseho,” the councilor said.
The councilor named fellow legislator Nendell Hanz Abella as among those reportedly showing interest in shifting to BOPK but Abella belied the information.
“I’m not transferring to BOPK. I’m still with Team Rama as of today,” Abella told The Freeman. — /JMO (FREEMAN)