BO-PK’s Abellanosa ready to face either Daluz or Batuhan

CEBU City Councilor Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan said he was confident about running for congress in the south district.

He shurgged off allegations that the school he owned, the Asian College of Technology, had captured the lion’s share of city government scholars.

Last August 30, the anti-corruption group Dilaab Foundation demanded an investigation of ACT and how it benefited from the P70 million college scholarship fund of the city government which subsidizes a freshman college student at P10,000 each.

Abellanosa denied that he used his influence as a city councilor.

Abellanosa recalled that it was Michael Rama who was then vice mayor and still allied with the BO-PK, who endorsed ACT to the public.

“Thanks to him, I got many enrollees,” he said laughing.

Abellanosa said parents were the ones enrolling their children in ACT instead of choosing other colleges and universities in the city.

Meanwhile, Team Rama, has not finalized its choice for the south congressional district race — eitther Councilor Jose Daluz III or lawyer Aristotole Batuhan.

Their first bet, 80-year-old former congressman Antonio Cuenco begged off two weeks ago citing health reasons. He endorsed Daluz as his replacement.

Councilor Daluz confirmed that he met Batuhan over the weekend to discuss the south district congressional post .

“But I told him (Batuhan) that I cannot give him my personal commitment of support because the selection of the south district candidate will have to be a party decision,” Daluz told Cebu Daily News.

Daluz said that he also told Batuhan that he was also being considered for the position.

“Whatever will be the outcome of the selection process, it’s going to be a party decision,” said Daluz. /Doris C. Bongcac and Tweeny M. Malinao