‘I will be an independent mayor … I will work in the name of public service and in the name of God.’

After almost 19 years, and count-less spats in public with his former mentor, he finally said it was over.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday said he was “independent” and no longer considered himself part of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), the political group of Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district.

For the first time, Rama mentioned he was “ready” to go up against Osmeña if the congressman decides to run for his old post as mayor in 2013.

“Siya gusto man kaha mobalik, di mag abot lang mi (He’s the one who wants to make a comeback, so we’ll just face each other in an election),” said Rama in a radio dyAB interview in the morning.

Rama, who’s been criticized and charged in court over demolitions of illegal shanties in Mahi ga Creek, said he was fed up with misinformation from Osmeña’s camp that the Cebu City mayor was not willing to provide a relocation site for displaced settlers.

“I’m declaring my independence,” said the mayor, who added that there was no need to submit a resignation letter or notify Osmeña since BO-PK was not a political party.

“I belong to the party of the people. . . . I will work in the name of public service and in the name of God,” said Rama.

In a separate interview, Congressman Osmeña scoffed at the move and said he wasn’t surprised by Rama’s decision to leave BO-PK.
“Now we don’t have to keep apologizing for him,” he said.

Osmeña said he knew the break was coming when Rama started getting close with Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.

“Dugay na ta kahibaw sa pagpakig kita ni Rama sa atong mga kontra (I’ve known for a long time that he was seeing my enemy),” said Osmeña.

Mayor Rama said he was disappointed that Osmeña frequently criticized him for his decision to demolish shanties in Mahiga Creek, leading up to the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Rama by the Pagtambabayong Foundation, an urban poor group led by known Osmeña ally Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, a former Cebu City administrator.

“Dili man na mahimo nga imong kauban ikiha ka,” said Rama. (You can’t have your own partymate filing charges against you.)

Rama first mentioned his decision to go “independent” in a morning radio interview.

He repeated it in a closed-door meeting with his staff at City Hall, then again in a dialogue with the Mahiga Creek residents before noon and a press conference.

“I would like to declare today that I am already independent. They filed cases against me left and right. I have to make a choice. I have to make a statement. I will be an independent mayor in the name of public service and in the name of God,” Rama told reporters.

Rama joined BO-PK as a city councilor in 1992. He served three terms as vice mayor, before running for mayor last year under the Liberal Party and BO-PK.
Rama said he had long been made to feel unwanted in the BO-PK, especially in the last months.

“Mag sige ta ug storya ug partido. Unya mo ingon man sila nga wala na koy labot. Ug mag sige ko pangankon nga apil ko, unya wala na diay koy labot. Mura na ko’g broken record. At the same time I would be a hypocrite and then I would also be naive about what has been demonstrated against me,” he said.
However, Rama said he would keep his alliance with his national party, the Liberal Party (LP).

“I am a candidate of LP and I signed my candidacy under LP. BO-PK is not a party. It’s only a group,” he said.

Rama said he has not thought about entering an alliance with another group, including Governor Garcia.

“Wala man na sa akong huna huna. Ang partido nako partido sa mga katawhan. Partido sa mo barug. Partido sa kaayohan sa syudad sa sugbu. Partido sa mo obserbar sa rule of law (I have not thought about that. My party is the party of the people. The party of those who would stand by what is right and look after the city’s best interest. A party that observes the rule of law),” he said.

How will Rama fare with City Council?

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama’s decision to go “independent” may make it awkward working with the City Council.

Vice Mayor Joy Young and the 16 elected councilors all belong to the BO-PK.

But Young and some legislators said the mayor’s conflict with Tomas Osmeña was hopefully temporary.

“It’s very unfortunate but I’m still hoping that they will get back together,” said Young.

Councilor Ritchie Osmeña said, “We respect his decision. I’m sure he knows what’s best for him and the council has been very supportive of his moves,” said the councilor.

Majority Floor Leader Edgar Labella said Rama doesn’t have to tender a formal resignation from the BO-PK, since it is not a registered political party, but a group that shares the same principles.

“I wish him the best in whatever political plans he will embark on,” said Councilor Alvin Dizon, head of the council committee on housing and the urban poor.
Mayor Rama said relations with the council would depend on their cooperation.

“If the city council will also be ‘’barug’ and they will not be a problem (to my administration), wala problema ana. Pero ug ang city council usa ray tuhoan, dili na sila mo tuo sa ilang kaugalingon, then naa nay problema,” he said.

(If the council listens to only one man, and not believe in themselves, then there’s a problem.)

Asked if a reconciliation with Osmeña was possible, Rama didn’t rule it out.

“I never wanted this to happen. I’ve always been sticking it out (with BO-PK) all the way, but I’ve been called so many names,” he said.

The mayor had in the past been portrayed as a “rubber stamp” of Osmeña, and lately as being “arrogant” and “heartless” in dealing with the urban poor.