Rama on vacation as ally hits BO-PK on poll protest bid

RE-ELECTED Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama left for a 22-day vacation to an undisclosed destination last Sunday.

He left Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young in charge as  acting mayor.

Young’s party the  Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) plans to  pursue its election protest against Rama and Vice Mayor-elect Edgardo Labella.

Basak Pardo barangay captain Dave Tumulak called on BO-PK to drop their plans to file an election protest as being very divisive.

“It’s sour-graping. They have to face the reality and move on.  This (loss of Tomas Osmena and Young) is an eye opener for all of us,” he said.

The mayor’s staff said they didn’t know where Rama went. Calls made to Rama’s cell phone were directed to a Mandarin speaking operator who said the  mayor cannot be reached for the moment.

“Bisan kami wala mi sultihi ug asa mo larga ang mayor kay gusto siya mo pahuway (The mayor didn’t tell us where he went because he wants to rest),” said  Tumulak.

Incoming Councilor Gerardo Carillo said the BO-PK had  to file their election protest to make sure that the May 13 election was without any fraud and in preparation for the 2016 elections.

But as of yesterday, he still couldn’t say when  BO-PK lawyers would file their  protest before Comelec and what evidence it would contain.

Carillo, the number two councilor in the south district next to re-electionist Councilor Margot Osmeña, said a voter from barangay Calamba for example complained of a pre-shaded ballot given to her with the names of Rama and Labella filled out.

The Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) replaced the ballot.

Carillo said the voter and the BO-PK watcher assigned to the precinct were asked to issue an affidavit about the incident.

“If we don’t do this, who else will be doing this?” Carillo said.

He also laughed at reports that he will switch to Team Rama now that BO-PK leader and outgoing Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district lost his mayoral bid.

Tumulak said accusations of cheating is a “shame and a big insult to the Cebuanos.”

If BO-PK insist on filing of an election protest, “they have to prove if there’s cheating.” Rather than politicking, Tumulak said the BO-PK should support Rama instead.

Tumulak said he will support Rama’s plan to have an integrated emergency response system similar to the Rescue 911 in the US.

He said his experience in running the Basak Pardo Emergency Response (BPER) was already enough to make sure that the city’s emergency response system will be placed. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters