CEBU, Philippines — “That’s it.”
This was the short statement of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who is still under preventive suspension, after he let his supporters confirm with a “yes” answer when he was asked if his tandem with acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is already over.
Rama was asked this question during the introduction of his “probable candidates” of the Partido BARUG-Team Rama yesterday.
To recall, Rama ran with Garcia as his vice mayor in the 2022 elections. He also previously declared that Garcia will remain as his running-mate for the 2025 elections.
The other day, Garcia introduced the officers of the KUSUG party and expressed openness, when asked, to run for the mayoralty post, although he said running with Rama is still possible.
In a press conference right after the introduction of Barug’s “probable candidates” yesterday, Rama set the record straight, with a not-so-straightforward answer when asked if his tandem with Garcia is still on.
Rama, however, refused to name who his vice mayoralty candidate be, although acting Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros and Liga nga mga Barangay President Franklyn Ong are being touted as his options.
Ong, on the other hand, hinted at running for the north district congressional seat.
Rama, though, said nothing is confirmed yet because all the possibilities are still being taken into consideration.
Yesterday, incumbent city councilors Francis Esparis, Jocelyn Pesquera, Noel Wenceslao, and Phillip Zafra, as well as Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Rhea Jakosalem as his candidates for city councilors.
He also introduced Novie Abella, Mae Anne Agipo, Ramon Alcoseba, Karla Henry Ammann, Gremar Barete, Harry Eran, Ian Hassamal, Ernest Herrera, Rey Lauron, Melvin Legaspi, Clyde Limpag, Rex Milan, Maria Pino, Jessica Resch, Atty. Collin Rosell, Atty. Mikel Rama, and Kevin Sanchez as his probable candidates.
Rama said that it does not have to be answered immediately who will be Barug party’s candidate for vice mayor, only saying that he or she is among those who were introduced.
“Naa ra gyud diri. Kabalo namo daan ana pero karon ato lang sa ipresentar ang probable, plus with the approval sa akong grupo,” he said.
The filing of Certificate of Candidacy for the 2025 midterm elections is on Oct. 1 to Oct. 8
Rama also said that the presence of Ong symbolizes the birth of a political alliance between BARUG and Bag-ong Sugbo.
Ong ran for vice mayor under Bando Osmen?a Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) in the 2022 elections but lost to Garcia.
He said they were told that BOPK could no longer sustain itself as a party and that they were already considered as “independent” in terms of party affiliation. That is why, he said, he joined BARUG.
He, however, also said that he stands as the face of his Bag-ong Sugbo group, which is said is a “grassroot movement” created by all barangay captains of Cebu City.
In the same press conference, Rama highlighted that there was no official documentation that signified the coalition of BARUG, Garcia’s KUSUG, and Atty. Jose “Joey” Daluz III-led Panaghiusa during the 2022 elections.
This was his response when asked if the coalition of these three political parties is still active.
He admitted that there is supposed to be a “document” that needed to be signed for this coalition in 2021, but it did not materialize.
“Wa man koy napirmahan, di wala. Di nata mag-istorya og mga ngalan kay makig-atbang man ni sila namo. So, dili nato istoryahan ilang partido,” Rama said.
With 21 “probable candidates” with him, Rama said their meetings will continue to determine the “Lucky 9” who will be their official candidates for the 2025 elections and whose identifies he will announce “in the proper time.” —Iris Mascardo (FREEMAN)