PDP-Laban can adopt Team Rama, Daluz says

The PDP-Laban is ready to adopt Team Rama as its guest candidates for Cebu City.

This developed after the Liberal Party (LP) gave its  official stamp of support to Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), naming Rep. Tomas Osmena their leader in Cebu City and candidate for city mayor.

Councilor Jose Daluz III said this was “unfair” and an “injustice” to incumbent Mayor Michael Rama as a   good Liberal Party member.

Aside from Daluz, PDP-Laban has former congressman Antonio Cuenco as its regional coordinator for Central Visayas.

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III already endorsed Dr. Marlo Maamo as PDP-Laban’s congressinal  bet for Cebu City’s north district.

Team Rama already has talent manager Annabelle Rama as its candidate for Cebu City’s north district.

But Daluz said he sees no problem with PDP-Laban adopting Team Rama’s slate.

“The way I see it, Annabelle can be adopted under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) slate,”  he said.

Mayor Rama said he would reveal his plans at the “proper tme”.

Both Team Rama and BO-PK are preparing their  Certificates of Candidacies for filing on  Oct. 1 to 5.

Lawyer Aristotle Batuhan joined Team Rama as the group’s candidate for Cebu City’s south district.

He will run against BO-PK’s bet Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa.

Daluz will serve as Team Rama general campaign manager while Councilor Edu Rama is their campaign manager.

Batuhan said he is grateful that Daluz agreed to “step aside” to allow his entry into Team Rama.

Batuhan also challenged Abellanosa to a debate on  issues like the conflict of interest posed in the city’s scholarship program since Abellanosa’s  school, the Asian Technology Institute, is a major recipient.

Abellanosa declined the challenge, saying  his track record speaks of his brand of service for south district residents.

“Does Batuhan think that public service can be translated into how well you debate and that being a representative of the constituents of Cebu City’s south district is all about rhetoric in a legislative agenda?” he said.

Abellanosa said Batuhan barely knows what he has done for the south district’s poor families and senior citizens because he spends most of his time in Manila where his law firm is located.

The councilor said Batuhan only comes to Cebu during the election season to campaign.