GUARDO LEAVES TEAM RAMA

Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo leaves Team Rama to join Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, which may give the latter the majority in the City Council Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella says he respects Guardo’s decision, but he clarified that Team Rama acted on his

Ten months after winning majority of the Cebu City Council seats, Team Rama loses a third ally to rival party Bando Osmeña. Councilor Jerry Guardo’s decision is expected to lead to a change in the council’s committee leadership.

Team Rama councilors will soon be the minority bloc in the Cebu City Council after Councilor Jerry Guardo announced yesterday that he will be joining the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

In a press conference attended by Mayor Tomas Osmeña and BOPK councilors, Guardo said he decided to cut ties with Team Rama because of the issues surrounding his suspension.

“When I ran, my passion really is to serve but with the current situation, I feel that my potential to serve is limited,” Guardo said.

He admitted that he was dismayed when Team Rama officials failed to address the issue that one of his partymates pushed for the implementation of his threemonth suspension.

Guardo was referring to Lemar Alcover, the son of Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., who, he alleged, is behind his suspension.

“I am hurt. I wanted to protect my name but what happened tainted my name. I was dismayed with what happened. It’s not healthy that we belong to one party, yet we hold grudges,” he said during the press conference where his wife, daughter and brothers were also present.

New majority?

Jonathan Guardo, older brother of the councilor, has supported BOPK as early as 2013, and he said that he is happy that his brother is now with them.

Weeks before the announcement, Guardo denied that he will be joining BOPK, saying he is loyal to Team Rama.

Osmeña welcomed Guardo to the group, saying BOPK will now be the new majority in the City Council.

“With the majority, we will be able to get the necessary measures,” he said.

Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña said they will push for the reorganization of the chairmanship of the Council committees now that most of the councilors are their allies.

At present, BOPK has eight councilors including Margot, Sisinio Andales, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Joy Augustus Young, Alvin Arcilla Mary Ann delos Santos and Dave Tumulak.

Councilors Delos Santos, Dave Tumulak and Nendell Hanz Abella used to be with Team Rama. Abella calls himself “independent.”

Team Rama also has eight councilors: Alcover, Jose Daluz III, Eduardo Rama, Raymond Garcia, Joy Pesquera, Philip Zafra, Joel Garganera and James Cuenco.

Executive function

But when asked yesterday if he is already with BOPK, Tumulak, who was also present at Guardo’s press conference, gave reporters a nod.

Guardo, who is the current chairman of the committees on infrastructure, urban planning and sports, said he will accept whatever executive function Osmeña will give him.

But the mayor said he will leave it to Guardo to decide what functions he will take, saying he knows what area he is good at.

When sought for comment, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said he respects Guardo’s decision to leave their political group.

“I respect him. I respect his conviction, principle and opinion. We will just continue doing our job and service to the people,” Labella said in a phone interview.

He clarified, though, that Team Rama did something about Guardo’s request to clarify reports that the younger Alcover was behind his suspension.

Labella, the presiding officer of the Council, said BOPK councilors can call for a reorganization by moving to suspend the house rules.

To do this, the vice mayor said that they will need two-thirds vote, or at least 12 votes, to proceed with the reorganization of the committees.

Former mayor Michael Rama has yet to comment on Guardo’s move.

He is expected to do so during a press conference that he scheduled this afternoon.