Labella vows council unity

Vice Mayor-elect Edgar Labella vowed to bring unity to a Cebu City Council that remains dominated by the rival Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) bloc.
“It’s not important that we ask them to transfer to another party because I find it unnecessary. What’s important is that we should support whatever programs the mayor has that could benefit all,” he said in Cebuano.
Labella was proclaimed winner with a margin of 184 votes against outgoing Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young last Thursday.
He said he is relieved that the election was finally over.
Labella told reporters he would call a meeting of all  16 elected councilors before their July 1 inaugural session to stress  the need for them to work together and to discuss new committee assignments.
The new council has  four Team Rama councilors – Mary Ann delos Santos (north district) and Dave Tumulak, James Cuenco and Hans Abella (south district).
The rest are 12 BO-PK allies – Margot Osmena, Gerardo Carillo, Eugenio Gabuya, Roberto Cabarrubias and Richie Osmena (south district) and Nestor Archival, Alvin Arcilla, Sisinio Andales, Leah Japson, Alvin Dizon, Nida Cabrera and Noel Wenceslao (north district).
“They are mature and objective. Hopefully they will also be independent. We will always uphold the principle of check and balances but will never be obstructive.  We will be objective,” Labella said.
Young assured  that BO-PK allies won’t be obstructionists.  BO-PK councilors met last Thursday.
“I told the councilors to do their best and to work with the administration and not to be obstructionists,” said Young.
Labella said it was important to keeping communication lines open.
“The council should be more participative, more deliberative,” said Labella.
Labella said he would continue  handling pro bono cases for poor litigants even when he starts to function as the council’s presiding officer since the law  does not prohibit a city vice mayor from a private law pracice as long as he doesn’t handle cases involving the local government he serves.  Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac