EDITORIAL Rama’s sacrifice

How far will former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama go to sacrifice his desire to return to City Hall’s highest post? Rama was reported to be ready to step aside in his mayoralty ambition in favor of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

But Cebuanos want a clear statement from the former mayor as to what is really his decision for the next elections. That is because while he was reported to be willing to give way and support Labella’s mayoralty bid, Rama did not discount the possibility of running for mayor if his supporters want him to.

“Hence, I leave my political fate in the hands of the people that support Barug Team Rama… While on the other hand, if the dictates of Barug Team Rama supporters is for me to run again as mayor of Cebu City, I will earnestly seek Edgar’s conformity to run again as my vice mayor,” Rama said.

Many perceive such a statement as vague considering the fact that although he is ready to back Labella, Rama continues to harbor the desire to grab again the post he had repeatedly claimed was stolen from him.

There’s no question that Rama remains a force to reckon with in Cebu City politics. The former mayor still has huge following that is ready to back him up in his ambition to run for any post, including City Hall’s top post.

However, his chance of winning is another story. Rama, if he decides to run for mayor, will have the gargantuan mission of unseating the man who defeated him in 2016. For him to win, he needs not only well-oiled machinery but a massive information campaign that would convince city voters that he was wrongly accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of being a drug protector.

A Rama mayoralty candidacy in a threecornered fight that divides the opposition will only benefit his mortal political enemy, reelectionist Mayor Tomas Osmeña.