Tom wants new faces for BO-PK’s 2013 lineup

Next year’s lineup for the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) in Cebu City will have new faces, said Rep. Tomas Osmeña of the city’s south district yesterday.

In confirming his run against Mayor Michael Rama, Osmeña said he wants to ensure victory for his candidates.

He said the new lineup will replace third term councilors like Jose Daluz and Edgar Labella.

“I am actually doing this for the slate. I don’t need (to court for) votes (to win) anyway (because I know I will win). I just wanted to make sure that my slate wins,” he told a news conference at his Guadalupe home.

He won’t include former or incumbent officials siuch as Arsenio Pacaña and Sylvan Jakosalem, who is Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (Citom) chairman.

“I told him (Pacana) you’ve had your chance already. If it were one of your children who will join BOPK, that would be okay with me,” the south district congressman said.

But a former councilor, lawyer Gerardo Carillo, may be in the BO-PK council slate, Osmeña said.

He said former councilor, Edwin Jagmoc, won’t be invited because he was a non-performer who had figured in a scandal.

Osmeña said Jakosalem doesn’t have a bailiwick and makes no effort to build ties with the barangay officials.

Jakosalem , meanwhile, said he may not seek an elective post next year.

He said he was busy working as president of radio station Y101 and as Citom board chairman.

“But I am still good friends with Tommy,” he said.

Osmeña said he has announced his political plans early with more than a year to go before the next election so Cebuanos would know.

“My strategy is to put my cards on the table and explain to the people that my objective now is to make it hard for Mike Rama to find candidates for his slate. I will do everything in my power to make them lose,” he said.

Osmena said he is warning all those who wanted to join Rama’s slate in the election that they would surely loose their bid. He said he was determined to defeat Rama.

“It was my fault that I put him (Rama) there so I should take him out. (With my running for mayor) I am also giving the people a choice,” said Osmena.

Osmeña also laughed off reports that Rama wants to tap Councilors Edgar Labella or Lea Japson for his vice mayoral candidate.

The two, he said, would not win an election with Rama because they aren’t exposed to south district voters. He said Labella is not interested to run for vice mayor.

Osmeña said Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young remains the strongest candidate to run for reelection because of his strong presence in the city’s north and south district.

He cited Young’s achievements such as his introduction of the night high school concept in Cebu City which other local government units adopted. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac