Sambag 1 leader caught by surprise
Jerry Guardo admits he had no idea his brother Jonathan would be supporting Tomas, BOPK
Jerry says he’s not sure if Jonathan’s announcement can affect his plan to run for the City Council under Team Rama in 2013 Former congressman Cuenco says he and Councilor Daluz will postpone renewing their oath as members of PDP-Laban until after the filing of certificate of candidacy in October
SAMBAG 1 Barangay Captain Jerry Guardo was surprised when his older brother and businessman Jonathan Guardo pledged his support for the mayoralty bid of Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) in next year’s election.
Jerry, who is considered as one of Team Rama’s bets for councilors in the north district in 2013, said Jonathan didn’t tell him beforehand about his decision.
Last Thursday, Jonathan formally announced his support for Osmeña and the candidates of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) during the congressman’s 64th birthday celebration.
Embarrassed
Jerry admitted he was embarrassed by the announcement, saying Team Rama expected full support from his family. But he clarified that he is on good terms with Jonathan, who ran and lost against Osmeña in the 2010 elections for the south district congressional seat.
“I was really surprised by his statement of support, down kaayo ko ron (I feel depressed), but I have to stand firm and support Team Rama all the way,” Jerry said.
He said he hasn’t talked to him since Thursday.
The barangay captain said he’s not sure if Jonathan’s support for Osmeña can affect his (Jerry’s) plan in 2013, but he will take it as a challenge to work hard for the Team Rama.
Mayor Michael Rama, who is in South Korea, said he will comment on the matter when he returns to Cebu tomorrow.
The mayor earlier said nothing is fixed in politics until it’s over and changes no longer surprise him.
‘Anything is possible’
Osmeña, for his part, said he is happy that he has Jonathan’s unconditional support.
He didn’t discount the possibility that Jerry will follow suit.
“Anything is possible but it’s not for me to say. What’s important is that Atan (Jonathan) doesn’t like Rama and Cuenco (former south district congressman) and that makes me happy and happier next year,” Osmeña said in Cebuano.
Cuenco, who announced he will run again for congressman in the south district under Team Rama, said Jonathan’s support for BOPK has no impact on their group because the businessman’s supporters have disbanded.
Cuenco also said he wasn’t surprised by the development because “strang- er things can happen when it comes to politics.”
Who will it be?
Meanwhile, he said he and Councilor Jose Daluz III have postponed taking their oaths as members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), which he and Daluz’s mother Nenita “Inday Nita” Daluz co-founded with former senator Aquilino Pimentel.
Cuenco said he is willing to wait until after the filing of certificates of candidacy in October. By then, it will be clarified which mayoral candidate the LP will back, he said.
“Mayor Rama requested (us) to postpone our oath-taking until he can verify his status with LP (Liberal Party),” he said.
“We can wait, there is no rush. Anyway, PDPLaban has no local candidates,” Cuenco said.
Rama earlier said he was glad Cuenco and Daluz postponed their oathtaking before Vice President and PDP-Laban head Jejomar Binay, who was in Cebu last July 20 to attend Gov. Gwen Garcia’s State of the Province Address. That way, the public won’t be confused about the national party affiliation of Team Rama, he said.
Rama continues to be with the LP, while Cuenco and Daluz are original PDP-Laban members.
The mayor, though, made no mention of his status in LP being in danger.