Team Rama sees enemies being ‘wiped out’
Team Rama sees enemies being ‘wiped out’
THE complete slate of the Partido Panaghiusa sa Panerbisyo-Team Rama was officially presented by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday.
With all their candidates introduced, the group is confident they will get majority of the City Council after the May 2016 elections.
“If all will vote for them, then the opponent will be wiped out. That is our seeing beyond. They will all be wiped out,” said Mayor Rama, who is the head of the group.
The mayor said their candidates were chosen based on the results of their surveys as well as the endorsement from the Association of Barangay Councils, among others.
Even if the elections will be held today, their opponents will still be defeated, adding that they have been blocking the passage of the proposed P2.8 billion supplemental budget this year, he said.
Rama and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella are seeking reelection.
Slate
Team Rama’s candidates for councilors in the north district are former congressman Jun Alcover, Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman, Kamputhaw Barangay Councilor Atty. Raymond Garcia, Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera, former Sambag I barangay captain Jerry Guardo, JP Labella, son of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, and Councilor Noel Wenceslao.
Their candidate for congressman is former mayor Alvin Garcia.
For the south district, Team Rama’s bets for councilors are Councilors Hanz Abella, James Cuenco and Dave Tumulak, former councilors Atty. Joey Daluz III, Atty. Jocelyn Pesquera and Eduardo Rama Jr., as well a Inayawan Barangay Captain Lotlot Ignacio-Soon and Renato “Junjun” Osmeña Jr., son of former vice mayor Renato Osmeña.
Their candidate for congressman is Councilor Gerardo Carillo.
The Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) has not yet officially announced their candidates.
Their head, former mayor and south district congressman Tomas Osmeña, said it might be known during the filing of the certificate of candidacy next week.
Sought for comment about statement of Rama, Osmeña said the mayor is just “ego-tripping.”
“It is the people who will decide. Anyway, why vote for a guy who probably will be convicted in a year,” he said,
apparently referring to the administrative case that Rama along with other City Hall officials are facing over the release of the P20,000 calamity assistance in 2013.
The presentation of Team Rama candidates was done at the Fort San Pedro yesterday.
On why the venue, Rama said the Fort is not only historic, but also because of what it represents. A fort is a military defense structure.
“The team has always been fighting. Fighting for those who are being oppressed, fighting against many things that has become an ill of our city and, likewise, we have also been fighting against anyone who is oppressing. Fort is a defense and Team Rama will always give a defense,” he said.
Former mayor Garcia was asked about his supposed advantage against Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) who might be seeking reelection in next year’s polls, he said the fact that he is with Team Rama matters. He described the group as a “winning team.”
Aside from that, he said it is time the public change leaders in Congress, saying that the del Mar’s have been lording over the north district for more than a decade already.
Moreover, he said, he has many planned legislation, such as creating the Cebu City Development Authority, and amending some laws that would include the city mayor as member of the Cebu Ports Authority and the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority among others.
“The north district needs a fresh air. Bag-ong panglantaw, bag-ong serbisyo, bagong norte distrito,” he said.
Better choice
Carillo, who might be facing Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa (Cebu City, south district), said he wanted to run because he wants to give the south district “a better choice.”
As for Labella who might be facing Councilor Nestor Archival in the vice mayoral race, he said any opponent will be a formidable opponent.
He said, though, that the public knows how he has performed as the presiding officer in the City Council.
But Labella said he is hoping the city will soon have a council who will support the plans of the executive department.
“How I wish we could have a council that will not only be legislators, but a council that will cooperate with the mayor. We have already seen how it is,” he added.
The activity of Team Rama at Fort San Pedro yesterday was attended only by a few of their members, leaders, barangay officials and allies.
Rama said there are fewer people because there is still going to be the Visayas-wide launching of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), of which Team Rama is an ally.
The candidates will also be presented at the UNA event this morning at the Cebu Coliseum.