(We’re reprinting this news story that appeared with missing lines in yesterday’s issue. The jumbled text was due to a technical layout oversight. Our apologies to readers for the confusion. — Editors)
CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said he is confident that the Liberal Party will support him and his party in the 2013 elections.
He said there was no reason to drop him because he’s been a loyal party member who pays monthly dues and attends meetings.
“I am a full-fledged LP member. There is no reason for me to be kicked out,” said Rama.
He said the “equity of the incumbent” rule should be followed in selecting LP’s candidates in Cebu City and that declaring a “free zone” here shouldn’t even be considered.
A free zone would even the field between him and Rep. Tomas Osmeña, LP’s leader in Cebu City, who is also running for mayor next year.
Rama said he told Budget Secretary Butch Abad that Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who visited Cebu City, failed to invite him to a Liberal Party (LP) gathering, which Osmeña attended.
“What is Jess Robredo doing in Cebu? He should be overseeing DILG. There’s a person in charge of political affairs who takes care of political gatherings,” Rama said.
Rama said he also told Abad about misinformation against him.
“The President and Mar (Roxas) should know. If some people are communicating wrong information (against me), that should be corrected,” said Rama.
Rama denied rumors that he is courting the support of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The mayor witnessed the signing of an agreement between Binay and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia paving the way for the resolution of the dispute of province-owned lots in Cebu City covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1.
He said he and Councilors Edgardo Labella and Jose Daluz agreed to witness the MOA signing out of respect for Binay as the second highest official of the country and to support efforts to resolve the long-running 93-1 dispute.
Rama wouldn’t confirm or deny that negotiations are ongoing to recurit engineer Nestor Archival and Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal III to join Team Rama for the north district.
Rama said he also complained to Secretary Abad the sudden replacement of acting city treasurer Ofelia Oliva who was reassinged by the Finance Secretary without consulting the mayor.
“He (Abad) promised me that he would bring the matter to the attention of President Benigno Aquino III,” said Rama.
Rama cried foul over the replacement of Oliva by an order from Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.
During the term of Mayor Osmeña, Oliva was also removed as treasurer.
She returned to City Hall when Rama became mayor but her stint was cut short after her appointment was questioned by Osmeña.
Tessie Camarillo replaced her until last January when Oliva again returned as acting city treasurer.
But barely two months after she was reinstalled, Oliva was again replaced by Purisima. /Chief Of Reporters Doris Bongcac