Barangay leaders urge councilor to run for Cebu City vice mayor

A new opponent looms for Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young in next year’s elections.

Councilor Edgar Labella said he is giving “serious thought” to running for vice mayor.

Eighty  barangay officials came to his office yesterday urging him to seek the  post.

Labella said he already told Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) chief  Rep. Tomas Osmeña about his interest in  running  for vice mayor.

“It’s up to you. If you do, BO-PK will miss you,” he quoted Osmeña as telling him.

Labella,  on his third and last term as councilor, said he was ready to retire from politics and return to private law  practice but would consult his family about a vice mayoralty bid.

Labella, a former director of the Visayas Ombudsman Office, said he has no political network or funds to launch a campaign.

But he does have Mayor Michael Rama eagerly awaiting for his “yes” to be his running mate.

Mayor  Rama dropped by his office yesterday and raised Labella’s  right hand in a victory gesture before the barangay officials.

Labella said he was surprised by Rama’s spontaneous move.

“It would have been awkward if I pulled my hand free,” he said.

Rama said in a separate interview the gesture  wasn’t official even if he wanted the  councilor to be his  running mate in 2013.

Nevertheless,  Rama said he was happy with the developments.

The visit of barangay officials came a day after former Cebu City south district congressman Antonio Cuenco announced his new  alliance with the mayor.

“I am thankful to the Cuenco family for coming out in the open,” said Rama in a  press conference.

Rama said he also counted Councilor Jose Daluz III as another supporter for  his reelection bid.

Daluz, who is also on his third and last term,  attended Cuenco’s press conference last Sunday morning.

“He (Daluz) will always contribute to the principal intention of building a better future for Cebu City,” the mayor said.

Rama said he was waiting for a few more BO-PK allies to  join his group and that  BO-PK Councilor Ronald Cuenco may sign up as well.

Daluz said in an earlier interview that he was supporting Cuenco and whoever Cuenco backs for mayor.  Daluz said  he already told Rep. Tomas Osmeña of his  plans to leave the BO-PK and support  Cuenco.

He said the Cuencos are very  close to his family, especially his mother, the late Inday Nita Cortes Daluz.

“Wherever you are comfortable with, go there,” Daluz recalled Osmeña telling him.

“In fairness to BO-PK, the group has been good to me. Tommy and Margot have been good to me.  I am also confident that the other councilors will understand because BO-PK is comprised of mature and highly respected people,” he said.

For her part, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she agreed with Cuenco’s assessment of Rama.

“I was just struck by Cuenco’s comment that he will support Rama for mayor of Cebu City because Mayor Mike Rama is for unity,” she said.

Garcia said most Cebuanos approve of the harmonious ties between the province and Cebu City.

The governor said these ties have resulted to positive changes like the opening of the old Larsian road, the Capitol’s role in the Beautify Cebu Movement and collaboration in resolving the lot dispute with settlers of province-owned lots. Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters with Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus