Mike Rama shelves plan to join PDP
Rama shelves plan to join PDP-Laban while his name is in Duterte’s drug list
Former mayor says Team Rama decided to join PDP-Laban because it wants to be a partner for change, to support federalism and the war against drugs, criminality
FORMER Cebu City mayor Michael Rama will temporarily shelve his plan to take his oath as a member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
That, until his name will be cleared from the list of alleged drug protectors in the country. But he said he will pursue his membership with the national party after that.
His inclusion in the list of alleged narcopoliticians is the reason he did not join yet the Team Rama members and allied barangays, and officials in Cebu Province when they took their oath as members of the PDP-Laban last Saturday night at the Sacred Heart Center.
“I’ve been pondering that it would be good for the party (that I was not there), in view of the fact that I was part in the pronouncement being mentioned. I will be focusing first to get that family name, if possible, out of the list,” Rama said in a press conference he called at their ancestral house in Barangay Basak San Nicolas yesterday.
“That (oath-taking) will come later. What is primordial is our family name,” he said.
Federalism
The former mayor reiterated, though, that his intention to join PDP-Laban like the other Team Rama members remain, saying he have always been supportive of federalism, a form of government that Duterte has since pushing for the country.
He added that Team Rama stands with the President’s fight against illegal drugs and criminality.
“We decided to join PDP-Laban because we want to be partners for change? The president has also stressed the importance of the barangays in the fight against drugs and also in providing basic services. That is something we also believe in. Joining PDP-Laban will allow us to align efforts with that of the President,” he said.
It was early this month when the President, while visiting a military camp in Davao City, named more than 150 local officials, judges and police who were allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. The list included Rama.
Asked about an update on his move to have his name cleared, Rama said yesterday that he is still not being called by any agency.
He, however, already paid a visit to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Manila few days after Duterte made the announcement.
“I’m in quandary still where we should be connected with. I have to pray that one day we can probably connect to where,” he said.
Asked about his earlier visit in Davao City, Rama said it was not to meet with the President but he only attended the birthday celebration of his cousin. He hopes to have a chance to meet with Duterte soon, though.
Respect
On why there are some Team Rama members who did not join the oath-taking ceremony last Saturday, Rama said there were personal reasons, which he begged off from elaborating. He said he respect each of his allies’ decision.
Councilors Eduardo Rama Jr., opted not to take oath yet, out of respect for Rama, his uncle while Councilors Raymond Garcia and Joel Garganera were out of town when the ceremony happened.
Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. already an- nounced he is not joining PDP-Laban because of his stand against extra-judicial killings, while Councilor Hanz Abella also said he will not join the national party.
But Rama said the presence of the majority of Team Rama members including the 65 of their allied barangay captains are substantial enough that the group is backing PDP-Laban.
Meanwhile, Rama wished Councilor Dave Tumulak well, following his decision to leave Team Rama and become independent from any political affiliation.
“I do not have any anger. I wish him the best of luck,” he said.