Rama in talks with Noynoy over LP loyalty

HE tried, but Mayor Michael Rama was unable to contact President Benigno Aquino III to reassure him of his loyalty to the administration Liberal Party (LP).

“I just want to make it clear to him (President) that I remain loyal to the Liberal Party. It’s better to give a statement rather than be silent and create misconceptions,” the mayor said in yesterday’s press conference at his office.

Rama was among the dignitaries who attended the inauguration of the 200-megawatt coal plant in barangay Colon, Naga City, yesterday.

The mayor split from the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) party, which is affiliated with the LP.

Rama said he tried to contact Aquino to inform him about his exit from the local administration party founded by former mayor and now Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district.

Since his phone broke down, he had to ask the President’s cell phone number from former city councilor Hilario Davide III.

“I texted the president and told him if I could call. He was having lunch at that time so we didn’t get to talk. Then he sent Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to call me. Too bad I wasn’t able to take the call,” Rama said.

He said he didn’t have to send the president a letter informing him about his departure from the BO-PK.

He said he been in constant communication with the people from the Liberal Party through text.

“I don’t think there is a need to. Unless they (LP) would ask me to. They’ve been texting me, that means they have not been misconstrued,” Rama said.

Rama severed ties with the BO-PK with which he was affiliated with for nearly 19 years, last June 2.

The mayor said he maintains friendly ties with the City Council and seeks their cooperation.

The mayor is scheduled to announce his revamp of City Hall department heads and called for a review of the consultants, most of whom were hired during the previous Osmeña administration.

In leaving the BO-PK, Rama expressed disappointment over the charges filed against him by former city administrator Francisco Fernandez, who heads an urban poor foundation called Pagtambayayong.

Rama said the criminal and administrative charges were filed with the blessing of Osmeña, who criticized him for his hardline stance against allocating assistance to displaced settlers of the Mahiga Creek.

The mayor, who said allocating financial aid will only encourage more squatters to move to Cebu City, recently agreed to allocate livelihood assistance to the settlers who occupied the temporary relocation site in the nearby Block 27, North Reclamation Area (NRA). /Correspondent Edison delos Angeles