Labella thinking of offer to be VM
GROUP AND RAMA WANT HIM TO RUN
Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella said that he is giving serious thought to being the runningmate of Mayor Michael Rama in next year’s elections.
Labella said that he is thinking of running as Rama’s vice mayor after over 30 barangay councilmen and some barangay captains, who are members of the Barangay Kagawad sa Dakbayan (Barkada) went to see him.
The group is supporting the reelection of Rama.
Barkada is led by former councilman Lidiore “Boy” Miranda of San Roque. The captains present yesterday included Eliodoro Sanchez of Busay and Sambag Uno’s Jerry L. Guardo.
Sanchez and Guardo were both former councilmen in their respective barangays so they are still involved with the activities of Barkada.
While Barkada has committed its support to him, Labella said that he might not be prepared to run for such post as he has no organization to help him.
Barkada members offered their group to Labella. The organization is composed of councilmen from different barangays and has over 200 members.
Upon learning that the barangay officials were in Labella’s office, Rama also went there and was greeted by cheers.
Rama said he is waiting for Labella’s formal announcement that he is shifting allegiance to the group of the incumbent mayor just like what former Congressman Antonio Cuenco and councilor Jose Daluz III made last Sunday.
GIVE HIM TIME
Labella is a member of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), the party of Rep. Tomas Osmeña. He is now on his third and last term as councilor of the North District. The councilor has asked the group to give him a few days to think over their offer.
“I am giving it a serious thought. I will discuss this with my wife,” Labella said.
He, however, hinted that the clamor of the barangay officials would be hard to disregard.
“What they did just now was very heartwarming. Who am I not to listen to them? Even before this, several barangay officials, mostly from the South District have come to me for the same reason,” Labella said.
Labella clarified that he has not left the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan. He said he still adheres to the principles of the BOPK. Rama, he said, approached him to ask for his help in serving the city since last year.
He said that what he liked about Rama was the latter’s service-oriented approach. Labella said that Rama asked his help to serve the city and not to help Rama in his re-election.
Labella said that Rama and Osmeña both have good intentions for the city, but it was Rama who asked for his help.
Labella said that when he informed Osmeña that some barangay officials from the South District have asked him to run for vice mayor, Osmeña simply told him that he would be missed by BOPK.
Labella is hopeful that his colleagues at the BOPK would understand if he decides to accept the offer.
“I hope they (fellow members of BOPK) will understand because this is public service,” Labella said.
On the possibility that he will be stripped of his committee chairmanships, Labella said he cannot do anything if the majority decides for it.
MORE DEFECTIONS? Mayor Rama said that he expects more councilors to leave BOPK to join his group.
Rama was also once a member of the BOPK until he had a falling apart with Osmeña last year and was kicked out of the party.
Rama said that he expects his nephew Eduardo Rama and Ronald Cuenco, son of the former congressman, to also officially bolt BOPK.
“It goes without saying that Ronald will be on our side after his father and I formed alliance,” Rama said.
As to the other councilors expected to support his bid, Rama said he will not be preempting their decision.
Rama also said that Daluz will play a vital role in the city.
“He will be an enhancement to the principal intention of building a better city. I have trust and confidence in him considering his years of experience,” Rama said.
Rama projects that his alliance with Cuenco will be fascinating and challenging even beyond the elections.
FORUNITY “He couldn’t have said it better.” This was the reaction of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to the statement of Cong. Antonio Cuenco when he said he is supporting Mayor Michael Rama in the 2013 elections because the mayor is for unity in Cebu.
“Cong. Cuenco hit the proverbial nail right on the head. Unity is the way to go. Cebuanos want unity and that is why Cebu continues to be great,” the governor said.
Garcia said that the greater number of Cebuanos approved of the harmonious relationship between the Cebu Province and the Cebu City which they have not seen before the administration of Rama.
Garcia said that positive changes occurred took place because of the harmonious relations.