Cebu politics rears ugly head year before polls

CEBU CITY, Philippines—It is still more than a year before the 2013 elections but Cebu City Rep. Tomas Osmeña has announced plans to challenge the reelection bid of erstwhile ally, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

He told a news conference on Friday that he revealed his plans early not because he was eager to take back the post he vacated in 2010 but to ensure the victory of candidates under his local party, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

“I am actually doing this for the slate. I can lead a troop in combat and they will follow. I do not need [to court] votes [to win] anyway [because I know I will win]. I just wanted to make sure that my slate wins,” he said.

Rama, who was abroad, could not be reached for comment. He was expected to be back on Feb. 2.

But his cousin, San Nicolas Barangay Captain George Rama, said Osmeña should not be too confident.

“If he thinks he can beat Mike, that is his personal opinion. But we also have our own opinion that he will not win as mayor,” said the village chief.

Osmeña was mayor for three terms before he ran and won in the city’s south district congressional race in 2010.

He endorsed Michael Rama as successor, a promise he fulfilled to Rama who had been with BOPK for 19 years, starting out as a councilor and later as vice mayor.

But the two allies had a falling out a few months after Rama took over as mayor when Osmeña started publicly criticizing his policies and handling of city affairs. Rama eventually left BOPK although he remained with the Liberal Party, which is allied with Osmeña’s local party.