Rama says support for Marcos stays
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday reaffirmed his unwavering support to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (PBBM), while also reassuring Cebuanos that he has not reneged on his obligations to the city.
In a press conference yesterday, he said this came after he was seen as being active in the affairs of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP, formerly PDP-Laban), of which former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the chairman.
Just like the other PDP members, he said, he is for unity amid the tirades of Duterte against PBBM.
“My support to the President, His Excellency Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., has never withered but rather very much resolved, and steadfast,” said Mayor Rama during the press conference, which he made ahead of the scheduled visit of PBBM to Cebu today.
Rama said, he will continue to respect PBBM and will continue to be that way until the end of the latter’s term in 2028.
“The city of Cebu, under my leadership, strongly support PBBM and all duly constituted authorities, no matter what…. BBM is my president now and when his term ends in 2028… The whole Cebu City is for the success of the President and the Philippines,” he said.
“I wish the whole world will know that I love my president and that they should know that If you've seen that picture (him and PBBM)... that is the picture few hours after our victory and that is in Manila, in a very selective dinner. That hand, it was him who raised my hand, not me raising his hand, because that is not a proclamation anyway, it was just a picture that I wanted to have beside my new president,” he added, while pointing at their picture inside the Office of the Mayor Conference Room.
Every time they see each other, Rama said, he would always go back to that moment in time and cherish that they “were on the same boat and now we won”.
The mayor also said loyalty is nothing if the actions made were only for one’s own personal interests.
“There's no loyalty to talk about…We are talking about our country. When you talk about loyalty, loyalty to what? To perform your job as a mayor, do it well with good governance, no corruption, and then you help the president,” he said.
“There is no loyalty to talk about, because if we talk about loyalty, (kung) kawatan kang dako…masaligan ka?
Unya, hugawan ka…pero kung nagtrabaho kang tarong, dili ka corrupt, wala nimo saguli’g negosyo imong pwesto, wala ka mobuhat og pwerhisyo…he knows,” he also said.
He said that whoever is accusing him of disloyalty should “look at their faces in the mirror”.
“What have they done to this country? Sowing division? I am promoting unity. The President can be assured, he has an ally in me,” Rama said.
He also reassured Cebuanos that his obligations to the city also remain, as he continues to fight for what is right for them and the city of Cebu, including matters concerning the Metro Cebu Water District, the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, and even the Cebu Port Authority.