Dave tells fellow dads to move on
After making public his willingness to unite with
Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan, Cebu City
Councilor David Tumulak yesterday urged his fellow councilors to just move on and not let political ties hamper delivery of basic services in the city.
“If they (Team Rama) really love Cebuanos, especially Cebu City residents, it's high time to work hand in hand. Gusto sila moalagad ug moserbisyo sa katawhan, asa'y mas maayo makig-alayon nalang sila sa grupo sa administrasyon aron maipakita nato sa Sugbuanon ang atong tumong usa ra — ang pagpalambo sa atoang siyudad, paghatag og kaayohan ug pagtubag sa mga panginahanglan sa atoang mga katawhan,” Tumulak told reporters yesterday.
He was reacting to reports that the recent departure of Councilor Jerry Guardo from Team Rama, along with his and Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella's likely affiliation with the BOPK, will enable the administration to have control in the council.
Tumulak and Abella left Team Rama last year and declared themselves independent. However, they were offered deputy mayor positions by Osmeña which they accepted.
Guardo, for his part, disbanded from Team Rama last week after former party mate Lemar Alcover, the present barangay captain of Sambag 1, filed a case against him before the Office of the Ombudsman for his alleged failure to submit his yearend financial report to the Commission on Audit while he was still in office as village chief.
Alcover contended that he had to file the complaint because COA's approval was needed so that the barangay could get financial assistance from the city government.
In an interview yesterday, Tumulak called on members of the council to drop politics and focus with their duties.
“They have to move on because kining akong mga kauban sa konseho naa nay kaugalingon nga specialized nga trabaho, such as (Councilor Raymond Alvin) Garcia sa committee on laws, tabang siya sa administration. Si (Councilor Jocelyn) Pesquera maayo sa women's (affairs)…that's the time nga gamiton nila nang knowledge. (Councilor Jose) Daluz III, champion na sa urban poor while Councilor (Eduardo) Rama maayo sa information technology. Magamit na nila sa pagtabang sa administrasyon,” he said.
Garcia, a Team Rama stalwart, welcomed Tumulak's call in a separate interview but asked him to refrain from putting Team Rama in a negative light.
“So what is he (Tumulak) talking about nga namolitika mi or gababag mi? Wa man. Naa lang gyud mga issues nga wala mi nagkauyon,” he said.
To prove that they are not anti-administration, Garcia cited Team Rama's support to Mayor Osmeña on some pressing issues such as the long-standing 93-1 property row and the acquisition of a private hauler for the city's trash concerns.
He said though that there are things that just do not sit well with Team Rama councilors just like the plan to put up a transfer station at the Inayawan landfill as it is tantamount to reopening the garbage facility.
Tumulak, who was asked to compare Cebu City's two political camps, earlier told reporters that Team Rama Panaghiusa of former mayor Michael Rama has been hounded with too many controversies lately.
With him pledging allegiance to BOPK, Cebu City Council's composition is now 8-8-1, with eight members affiliated with Team Rama, eight with BOPK, and one independent member in the person of Abella.
Team Rama councilors include Garcia, Joel Garganera, Jocelyn Pesquera, James Anthony Cuenco, Jose Daluz III, Pastor "Jun" Alcover Jr., Eduardo Rama and ex-officio member Phillip Zafra.
BOPK-affiliated legislators, meanwhile, are Margarita Osmeña, Alvin Arcilla, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Sisinio Andales, Augustus Young, Mary Ann Delos Santos, Guardo and Tumulak.
JMD