Labella accepts VM offer
He asked for a few days, but it did not take that long for Councilor Edgardo Labella to accept the offer to run for vice mayor in the 2013 elections with Mayor Michael Rama.
After consulting his family and friends, Labella made the announcement before a group of about 20 barangay officials, who were at his office.
Labella said he could not ignore the requests of the barangay captains and councilmen who personally asked him to run for vice mayor so he can continue serve them, because he is no longer eligible for reelection.
Labella is on his third and last term as councilor of the North District. The Constitution limits local officials to three straight terms in one position.
“With all humility, I will accept the challenge and I will run as vice mayor together with Mayor Mike Rama and hope that God will be with us,” he said.
The 60-year-old Labella narrated that he had a sleepless night last Monday seriously thinking whether he will accept the endorsement of the barangay officials.
Although he refused to elaborate, but Labella said he had asked Divine guidance to help him decide whether to accept the offer or not, and he got an indication that God gave him the go signal to run as vice mayor.
ELATED Rama was elated when he learned that Labella finally accepted his offer to be his runningmate.
The mayor said Labella’s decision to leave the Bando Osmeña PundokKauswagan (BOPK) showed his desire to continue serving the city and its people.
Labella’s defection to Rama’s camp came days after former Congressman Antonio Cuenco also declared his intention to run as representative of the city’s south district under Partido Liberal.
Labella is hoping that Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña and Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and the rest of the BOPK officials will understand why he accepted the offer. WHY YOUNG? Osmeña said that although Labella is a good and competent lawyer, but he believes Young to be the best person to serve as vice mayor because of his administrative experience.
He recalled that Young was once adjudged as one of the country’s Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for pioneering the night high school that has benefited thousands of students. OCCUPATIONAL
HAZARD When asked what he will do in case his opponent will criticize him during the election campaign period, Labella said he already knows that it is one of the occupational hazards being a candidate.
“Kon atakehon ko dili lang nako tubagon. Apan hinaut unta nga they will be very objective, they will be open minded, and I know they are already matured public officials. Ang bottom line ra gyud namong tanan is pure public service,” (If they attack me, I will not answer. But I hope that they will be very objective… The bottom line for all of us is pure public service) Labella said.
Labella, a former Ombudsman director, said he is thinking of meeting with Young to explain to him why he decided to challenge his reelection.
Labella admitted that one of his problems for this vice mayoralty bid would be financial and the lack of organization.
Rama, however, said that such problems can be addressed soon.
SADDENED Osmeña and his wife Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña admitted that they were sad that Labella left BOPK, but they wished him good luck and respected his decision.
Margot said her door is always open to all possibilities for the coming elections. Reportedly, several of the 30 or so barangay captains of the South District said they will withdraw their support to Cuenco if she will be the one to run as representative.
Even the close allies of Rama describe the next elections as “very interesting” and they said this will be advantageous to the public.
EXPECTED Vice Mayor Young said they had expected Labella’s move.
He said that the BOPK already knew way before it was publicized that Rama invited Labella to be his runningmate.
Young, however, said that Labella would be the last from their group to jump ship after Councilors Eduardo Rama, Ronald Cuenco, and Jose Daluz III also joined Rama’s camp.
The vice mayor also said that he is confident that the reported plans of Councilor Lea Ouano- Japson of the North District to also bolt BOPK would not happen.
“I am 101 percent sure that Lea is with us. I never doubted that even before. Personally I’ve never doubted her, she shows where her loyalty is,” Young said.
In an interview, Japson appealed that she not be involved in politics at this point in time.
“As far as I know, I will be running as a councilor for my third term on 2013, but I wish to be involved with politics later. As of now, I want to focus on serving my constituents,” Japson said.
She said she hopes that her fellow councilors will not misinterpret her actions especially her cooperation with the programs of the mayor, because such are part of her job as city councilor. UNITED COUNCIL? Young said that with four councilors shifting alliance to the mayor, he will expect a change in their inclinations.
“I’ll try to keep the council as one as possible especially on important issues,” Young said.
He admitted though that it saddens him that someone, who used to be a close ally, will be his opponent in the coming elections.
“That’s the hard thing about it. You have to fight somebody who is one of your good friends. One of the hardest things I’ve found in politics in my 25 years is having to fight somebody who used to be your good friend,” Young said. –/ NLQ