Rama backing colleagues joining nat’l admin party
Even though his name has being linked to illegal drug trafficking by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama said he supports his colleagues joining the administration party Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
He, however, has set aside his intention to join the country's ruling party, saying he needed to focus on other matters.
"That will come later but what is primordial is our family name…. I will be focusing first to get that family name of mine, if possible, out of the (drug) list… It will just be a matter of time and consequence," he told a press conference he called inside the Rama clan compound in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City.
He said he has yet to meet the president on his being in the drug list.
"I am not being called. I am still in a quandary, still connecting where we should be connected with…. We will just have to pray that one day we can probably connect to, somewhere," he said.
He faced local reporters early afternoon yesterday, or barely a day after several Team Rama members took their oath as new members of PDP-Laban Saturday evening.
Rama said the intent to join PDP-Laban was brewed right after the May 9 elections, when he lost the mayoralty post to his political rival Tomas Osmeña.
"That has been the intention long time ago…. That has long been my position- to bring the whole Team Rama to have an alignment with PDP-Laban right after the elections," he said.
Rama said Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, and City Councilors James Anthony Cuenco, Joey Daluz III, Jocelyn Pesquera, and Jerry Guardo had his blessing to become PDP-Laban members.
"Team Rama has decided to join PDP-Laban because we want to be a partner for change. We have always been standing for federalism and the fight against criminality and drugs. We have never been out of it…. We even have been supporting relentlessly the administration's (anti-illegal) drive," Rama said.
He said his group believed that joining PDP-Laban will allow them to align their efforts with that of the president.
"The presence of, the affirmation of the vice mayor (and my) stalwarts would be substantial enough to show proof and speak for itself," he said.
He also explained why he was not among those who took their oath as new PDP-Laban members.
"Perhaps, you might be asking why I wasn't there…. I have been pondering that it would be good for the party in view of the fact that I… (was) mentioned (in the drug list)," he said, adding that he does not want to "muddle the oath taking ceremony with my presence".
City Councilors Eduardo Rama, Raymond Garcia and Joel Garganera are set to take their oaths separately anytime next month as they were out of town on the day of the oath-taking.
Tema Rama members City Councilors Nendell Hanz Abella and Pastor Alcover have declined to be part of PDP-Laban.
Rama refused to elaborate on the reasons of those who opted not to join the president's party, saying they "ought to be respected".
He said the main intention was, if possible, to bring the whole slate of Team Rama to join PDP-Laban, but those who would not are given the freedom to exercise their prerogative.
On City Councilor David Tumulak, who left Team Rama to become an "independent", Rama had no harsh words against him.
"I do not have any anger. I wish him the best. Good luck," said the former mayor.
Aside from Labella and the Team Rama city councilors, 65 of the 80 barangay captains of Cebu City have also expressed their support for the current administration.
Rama said the barangay captains, who are his allies, wanted that for the president's programs to be effective it must reach the grassroots, "where cooperation and coordination (by the barangay captains) would be needed."
"The barangays will also be an indispensable party to its (administration) accomplishment especially when we talk about the fight against (illegal) drugs, criminality, and providing also basic services," he said.