BO-PK to pursue electoral protest

Cebu City’s political fight is far from over.

A dejected Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan whose figurehead, Tomas Osmeña, lost the race to former ally, Mayor Michael Rama, got its second wind from their supporters yesterday who egged on the party’s leaders to pursue an election protest.

“Dili nato tugutan ug dili pasayloon. Puro na lang tikas, prisohon silang tanan (We will not allow them … we’ll not forgive them. It’s all a fraud, put them in jail),¨ a feisty Representative-elect Raul Del Mar said as he addressed BO-PK supporters who gathered yesterday at the South Road Properties (SRP) for a thanksgiving party.

Councilors Lia Japson and Nida Cabrera were holding back tears as they were overwhelmed with the show of support to the BO-PK a week after the voting.

North district Councilor Alvin Dizon said the big volume of people who went to SRP were questioning why their leaders, Osmeña, and Vice Mayor Joy Young did not win although the party got 12 of the 16 City Council seats.

Young, who lost to Councilor Edgardo Labella in the vice mayoralty contest, said the support they’ve seen from their people encouraged them to continue with the fight.

‘‘Dili nalang nako dugayon kay basin makahilak ko, unya musunod pod mo (I’ll keep this short as I might break up and cry and everyone else follows),” Young joked as his turn to speak came.

Representative-elect Bebot Abellanosa said  the results of the  elections is still questionable.

¨Sais mil difference is small in the mayoral race and 180 kapin nga nakapildi ni Young,¨ he said before belting out the jukebox hit song ¨Pusong Bato¨ which he dedicated to Mayor Rama.

The crowd went wild when Osmeña stood up and took the microphone.

“Abi ko napildi ko (I thought I lost),¨ a smiling Osmeña said as his supporters chanted his name.

¨Sigeg hilak lupig pa may patay nako instead of maghilakanay ta, magpa-party na lang ta (You’ve been crying as if I’m already dead. Instead of crying your hearts out, let’s just party),¨ he said.

A booming “Yes” boomed at SRP after the outgoing south district congressman tossed to his supporters the recommendation of BO-PK’s legal team to pursue an electoral protest.

¨I can´t move without asking the people. I just want to be sure that the people wanted to file a complaint so I will file a complaint,¨said Osmeña saying that it was his cue to make the necessary actions.

¨We are collecting a lot of data, as far as Joy Young is concerned he is a sure winner there are over rejected ballots, a lot. And there is something really wrong with the ballot and its highly speculative at this point¨ he added. /Apple Ta-as, UP Cebu Intern