Team Rama attends retreat ahead of campaign

Leaders and candidates under the Team Rama banner attended an overnight recollection in a resort in Tubod, Minglanilla town with their supporters yesterday.

The group heard gospel lectures and went to confession during the activity which started 3 p.m., said Eleodoro Sanchez, Busay barangay captain and Team Rama north district candidate for councilor.

“Mayor Michael Rama only wanted us to attend the recollection. It’s not a political activity,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Sanchez said Team Rama candidates remain intact, with barely a week left before the official start of the campaign period.

Rama said former councilor Sylvan Jakosalem remains a part of their north district slate even if he’s still recovering from the brain operation which he had in October 2012.

“Until such time that there is change, he (Jakosalem) will still be a candidate,” he said.

Rama is asking their critics not to target Jakosalem’s health condition.

Rumors of ill health is also dogging congressional candidate Raul del Mar of the rival Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) party.

Del Mar was reportedly admitted in a Cebu City hospital about three weeks ago after he fainted.

The 72-year-old del Mar said yesterday that he remains healthy despite the rigors of his barangay visits.

“How can I be sick when I was all over the place?” he said.

Yesterday for example, he attended pulong pulongs held in nine north district barangays which include Mabolo, Bacayan, Pahina Central, Tejero, Kalubihan, Budlaan, Kamputahaw and Kasambagan.

“If I am of poor health I will not be able to do all these,” he said. Del Mar, however, admitted that he visited the hospital early this month for his regular check up.

He said that he has been required to undergo annual check ups since he underwent heart bypass in 1989 “to check and make sure that there is no recurrence of the problem or there is no additional problem.”

“But when the check up ended, doctors found that there was no need for me to undergo another procedure or stay at the hospital longer,” he said.

Del Mar said this was not the first that someone made a fuss about his hospital visit.

“But what more proof do they need than actually seeing me all over the place? To those who wish me ill, I’m sorry to disappoint them,” he said.

Del Mar said he intends to continue his public service and maybe retire from politics and enjoy his private life when he reaches his mid 80’s. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac