Osmeña sees Labella, Dino as possible opponents
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña believes Barug Team Rama would field Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella as the mayoralty candidate in next year’s midterm elections.
Osmeña made the supposition following former mayor Michael Rama’s statement that he is willing to “sacrifice” his dream to return to City Hall as chief executive for Labella.
“It’s so presumptuous to say they’ll be strong (tandem) or they’ll be weak. It’s good for people to have another choice. You choose who you want,” Osmeña told reporters.
Osmeña said having a contender for the mayoral seat would give people a chance to better choose their leader.
At a press conference Wednesday, Rama said he will leave his political fate in the hands of the people supporting Barug Team Rama.
“I can sacrifice myself, but I cannot sacrifice my dreams for a greater Cebu City; and so, if it takes me as the founder of Barug Team Rama to do a supreme sacrifice, so be it,” he said.
Just last May, Rama expressed his intention to run for mayor again after getting defeated by Osmeña in the 2016 elections.
But supporters were torn after Labella also said he would run for mayor.
Osmeña said Rama is “stronger” than Labella even if the latter is being “backed” by the Office of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV).
Osmeña, however, hinted that OPAV Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino would also run for mayor.
“But, let me tell you. The one running for mayor is really Dino. Labella is nothing. Rama is stronger than Labella. It’s Dino. Without Dino, Labella is just like a bubble that will burst. Wala gyud. He’s nothing. He can’t even let Mike Rama win in his precinct,” Osmeña said.
“Dino is going to be the mayor. That’s the real happening. It’s Dino. All of these things from LTO (Land Transportation Office rift with Regional Director Victor Caindec), maybe even police, I don’t know,” he added.
Sought for comment, Labella said the mayor is entitled to his own opinion.
“I will just pray for him and pray for the city,” he said.
Labella said Barug Team Rama will decide as to who will run against Osmeña in the next year’s elections.
“It is still subject to the consensus of the group. I can’t say for now that it’s me (who will run for mayor). We submit ourselves to the consensus of the group. It’s not yet final,” he said.
As to Osmeña’s claim about Dino, Labella said he does not want to comment on that, saying it’s the people who will decide on who to vote as their leader.