NO DEBATES FOR BO-PK

No debates, please.

Cebu city mayoralty challenger Rep. Tomas Osmeña yesterday said he and his teammates will not appear in political debates during the campaign to avoid giving rivals any “attention” that could help boost their stock.

The Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) will only accept speaking engagements and prefer pulong-pulong or neighborhood gatherings to a big rally, he said.

“We are not going to attend forums because we are always outtalked. He (Mayor Michael Rama) makes claims about everything,” said Osmeña in a press conference at his residence.

“If they invite me I will speak but not in a debate,” he said referring to an invitation for a candidates forum.

The “no debate” policy of BO-PK has been in place for several elections.

Osmeña said that he no longer needs to introduce himself to voters because most Cebu City voters already know him after he served five terms as city mayor and three years as south district congressman.

“My presence will just give them the venue to get a crowd to listen to them He will just use me so that the crowd will go and listen to him.

“Nobody is listening to Mike Rama anymore.”

The congressman is one of more than 50 local candidates invited to appear in a non-debate Mega Cebu Candidates Fora this month mounted by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. with private sector and government partners. (See separate story).

The first of a three-part forum series will start on April 10, Wednesday, with mayoral and congressional bets of Cebu’s 1st district, including cities of Talisay, Carcar and Naga.

RAMA UNAFRAID

Re-electionist Rama said he is willing to attend a debate or candidates forum if his schedule is open, and that others in Team Rama would welcome an invitation.

“Team Rama candidates are lawyers, architects, professionals. Dili ni mahadlok mosulti,” (We are not afraid to talk.)

Rama has challenged his former ally Osmeña to a debate on Monday but the congressman declined.

Aristotle Batuhan, Team Rama south district congressional candidate, has also challenged BO-PK’s Rodrigo Abellanosa, owner of the Asian College of Technology, to an “intellectual discussion” but the councilor also begged off.

Batuhan said it’s time for candidates to present their platforms and action plans to the public.

“The people have to know what you intend to do if elected to office. This is not just about winning but about governance,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Batuhan said it was disappointing that BO-PK candidates were shying away from political debates in Cebu City, the densest city in Metro Cebu, with half a million voters

Proclamation Rally

Tonight’s proclamation of Team Rama bets in Plaza Independencia wil have entertainment celebrities from Manila brought in by their north district congressional candidate, talent manager Anabelle Rama.

Some personalities from the United Nationalists Alliance (UNA), possibly Vice President Jejomar Binay, are awaited.

But the gathering will be more of a panag-abot or meeting Team Rama supporters instead of a political rally.

Speeches will be limited to 30 minutes, said Rama, to give supporters more time to enjoy the performance of celebrities.

Rama said his group has reason to celebrate with the commitment of support of 71 of the city’s 80 barangay captains.

In his rival’s residence, Osmeña belittled the celebrity-studded proclamation, saying BO-PK doesn’t need to bring in stars to campaign for them.

“I am already a star. Margot is also a star. What do we need stars for?” said Osmeña grinning.

He said BO-PK candidates will continue to conduct their pulong-pulong in different sitios of Cebu City to reach grassroot voters.

“We are saturating the sitios. It’s like a guerilla warfare. We are deeply organized down to the grassroots so we can move. We have a strong network with the youth, sectoral groups, women and even the barangay officials. It’s like a web all over the place,” said Osmeña.

He downplayed Rama’s claim of support of 71 barangay captains. He said this was only a small portion of the city’s 640 barangay captains and councilors.

Osmena joked that he was ready to attend Team Rama’s “panag-abot” if he’s invited by the mayor.

Rama, in a separate interview, said in jest, “There is no need to invite him (Osmena). If I invited him, that would mean he’s already decided to surrender and join Team Rama.”

Senatorial Candidates

BO-PK, Osmeña said, may decide to hold a rally later but this is mainly to campaign for the Team Pnoy senatorial bets candidates.

He said BO-PK would give special attention to re-electionist senator Chiz Escudero and candidates Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Cynthia Villar and Sonny Angara because of their help to the city.

Escudero gave multicabs to the city’s 80 barangays while Sen. Manuel Villar, husband of Cynthia, gave P5 million to P10 million medical assistance to the Cebu City Medical Center and the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Sen. Edgardo Angara, Sonny Angara’s father, gave at least P10 million worth of infrastructure projects while Magsaysay sponsored deep wells in the barangays.

Osmean said he also needs Magsaysay’s help for his plan to develop the crash site in Mt. Manunggal in Balamban town into an eco-park or a little Baguio City.

“We need his (Magsaysay’s) support on that. He was not receptive before but he is now interested in the proposal. This is going to be good for Cebu’s tourism,” he said.

Names of the four senate candidates will appear on top of the Team Pnoy bets in sample ballots of BO-PK.

Two Magsaysay posters hang in the gate of Osmena’s house in barangay Guadalupe.

“When I become mayor (again). I will put a billboard in front of city hall with a list of the senators’ contributions to Cebu City on it,” he said.