Three Cebu City councilors affiliated with the ruling Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) confirmed their decision to join Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s slate for next year’s elections.
Councilors Jose Daluz III and Ronald Cuenco joined Councilor Edgar Labella, who confirmed that he will be Rama’s running mate.
“With all humility, I will accept the challenge, and I will run for vice mayor together with Mayor Mike Rama, and I hope God will help me,” Labella said.
Four out of 20 barangay captains present at Labella’s office confirmed their support to Rama’s reelection bid.
Labella, who made the announcement in his City Hall office, and Daluz are on their last three-year term. Cuenco said he will return to the US rather than seek a second term.
The three joined Councilor Edu Rama, the mayor’s nephew, in lending support to the Rama administration.
The mayor said this political development showed that he doesn’t have allies.
The mayor raised Labella’s right hand to formally welcome the third-term councilor to his group, before he started a noontime press conference held at his office conference room.
‘A head and arm’
Labella was invited to the mayor’s office then for a photo opportunity.
Rama said while it’s still too early to talk politics, his predecessor Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district already challenged him by deciding to run for mayor.
“If we form our group, which is already getting to be too clear, it’s always better that you already have the head and an arm. The other arm and the other extremities will be coming soon,” Rama said.
The mayor said his list of possible candidates is long and may even include those from the opposition Kugi USwag Sugbu group of former mayor Alvin Garcia.
Rama and Osmeña were allies in the BO-PK for 19 years until they parted ways last year.
Labella will face-off against Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, Osmeña’s choice as running mate.
“Rama asked me to help the people of the city. I hope that Tommy, Joy, Margot (Osmeña) and the other BO-PK councilors understand my plight,” said Labella, adding that he hadn’t been able to sleep nights before making his decision.
Young said he was only waiting for Labella’s confirmation of his candidacy.
Good friend
He said he heard from former BO-PK colleagues last year about Rama’s invitation to Labella to join him.
“The hard thing about it is that you have to fight somebody who is your good friend. But I guess that is part of politics. We can’t do anything about it,” said Young.
Young said he doesn’t underestimate his political opponents.
“We in the BO-PK were always reminded to campaign hard no matter how our opponents are,” he said.
Councilor Margot Osmeña said having Labella as an opponent is a “challenge.”
“But we fully understand his decision. This is already the last term for Edgar and BO-PK already has a vice mayor,” said Councilor Osmeña.
Representative Osmeña said the BO-PK will “miss” Labella.
The former-mayor-turned-congressman said he will call for a press conference sometime this week to comment on the transfer of Labella and other councilors to Rama’s fold.
Only politics
Daluz said he is supporting Rama because of former congressman Antonio Cuenco, a close family friend.
He said it was Labella and not Rama who offered him a city administrator’s post if he wins next year.
Daluz said Rama offered him to be his vice mayor but he declined.
He said he is more interested in helping Cuenco win the south district congressional seat and secure a national post for himself if offered by the Liberal Party.
“Tommy’s offer for me to run as (south district) congressman was better. Mike considered me for vice mayor too. But I didn’t take Tom’s offer seriously because I was supporting Cuenco. Labella is a better choice and I fully agree,” Daluz said.
Daluz said it was Labella who asked him to join him if ever he wins as vice mayor against Young.
“He (Labella) said I can be city administrator if I’m okay with that. But like I said, I am more interested with a national position,” Daluz told Cebu Daily News.
Councilor Cuenco said he left BO-PK because it would be awkward for him and his father to be on opposite sides.
“I already talked to Margot and I told her this is only politics and this will not affect our close family ties. I still respect and love Margot and Tommy,” Councilor Cuenco said.