Is it Annabelle or Marlo for PDP-Laban?

THE PDP-Laban officials affiliated with Team Rama are in a quandary over whom to support for Cebu City’s north district congressional race.

PDP-Laban’s candidate is Dr. Marlo Maamo, who was recently sworn in by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III while Team Rama’s candidate is talent manager Annabelle Rama who was included in the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) fold.

PDP-Laban regional chairman and former congressman Antonio Cuenco said having Maamo and Rama in the same slate may pose a problem for them and Team Rama, the group headed by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

“I don’t know how this would be settled,” said Cuenco, who’s affiliated with Team Rama.

He said if party procedures were to be followed, the matter could be referred to him for arbitration.

Pines Arsiga, head of PDP-Laban’s national education committee, said both Annabelle and Lahug barangay councilor Mary Ann delos Santos don’t automatically become official candidates for PDP Laban or UNA.

They could only be considered Puwersa ng Masa (PMP) candidates since they took their oath before former president Estrada, one of the top three UNA leaders.

But Arsiga said she will have to clarify this with their leadership.  Arsiga was in Cebu City to administer the oath taking of 200 new party members from sectoral groups and barangays last Thursday.

She said party nominees are deliberated upon by the executive committee prior to any decision.

In case two nominees vie for the same post, the conflict is resolved through arbitration.

Maamo said he doesn’t see himself running with Team Rama and added that he was prepared to launch his own candidacy.

He said he was confident that his advocacy for health reforms will give him votes against Annabelle Rama and either former congressman Raul del Mar or his daughter, incumbent Rep. Rachel del Mar of Cebu City’s north district. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles