Last week while I was in Manila, I received a text message informing me that Miss Annabelle Rama is asking for a refund of the amount of P3 million from Mayor Mike Rama and has blamed Mayor Mike’s girlfriend Joy Pesquera for her defeat.
I believe there is a misunderstanding here and these two relatives can very well sit down and resolve the issue between the two of them without resorting to press releases or press conferences as I see in them as two responsible close relatives.
Annabelle should refrain from making press statements because the election is over and people are just making fun of her statements, which are not helping Mayor Mike in his new term as mayor of the city.
A public quarrel because of money is not good for both of them, and nobody will come out as a winner in this conflict. I am hoping that Annabelle will heed my unsolicited advice to work things out with Mayor Mike, her cousin and head of the Team Rama.
One thing I learned from experience is that whatever is the outcome of the election there is nobody to blame but yourself because the final say always falls on the candidate.
I knew for a fact that Annabelle worked so hard in the last election including her family especially her husband Eddie and children Ruffa, Richard, Raymund, Elvis, Rocky and Richie Paul, but I think the time and the opportunity to win as member of the House of Representatives has not yet arrived.
She should be reminded that her opponent Rep. Raul del Mar lost in his first try against Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan.
I am hoping that Annabelle settles her issue with Mayor Mike Rama sans press releases because it is not going to help her cause if she continues to pick a fight with some people.
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Now that Mayor Mike Rama got re-elected as chief executive of the City of Cebu I think the Philippine National Police (PNP) should give him the opportunity to appoint a city police chief of his own choice and not one that is imposed upon him. The police chief should enjoy the trust and confidence of the city mayor so that the police operation will get the 100 percent support from the chief executive and I think that is also the proper protocol. Mayor Mike has got nothing against PNP Chief Nautel and as a matter of fact has worked with Natuel in the past few weeks. But out of respect for the newly re-elected mayor the PNP leadership should pave the way for the appointment of a city police chief that is the choice of Rama. I think Mayor Mike is not asking too much and Secretary Mar Roxas and the PNP leadership should heed his call.
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I think the feud between the city government and the Cebu Port’s Authority (CPA) is such a minor quarrel over the fencing of the CPA of an area at the back of the City Hall and Senior Citizens Park. The mayor wants the fence removed because it is obstructing the view from the City Hall and the Senior Citizens Park, but the CPA is claiming ownership of the property and asserting their right over it. The city government is also asserting its right over the CPA and is asking for its fencing permit which it did not get from the city government. The city government is also questioning the ownership of the property claimed by the CPA. If this issue cannot be resolved amicably, I suggest that this be resolved by the courts of law as one should file a case in court to help resolve the issue with finality. But I am hoping that there is nothing political here in this issue, and that ultimately the issue can be settled peacefully as we are dealing with two responsible and reasonable government agencies.