What happened before

About a month after the May elections, Annabelle Rama issued a press statement demanding that Team Rama refund the P3 million she had given Mayor Michael Rama’s party after she lost in her congressional bid.

Annabelle said she wanted her money back because Team Rama failed to deliver the votes.

The talent manager also pinned the blame for her loss on the mayor’s girlfriend, lawyer Joy Pesquera, whom she claimed got jealous of singer Pops Fernandez who sang a duet with Mayor Rama during a campaign rally.

Pesquera headed legal panel of Team Rama which was in charge of the watchers and canvassers.

“Kaning bayhana sobra gyud na ang iyang kasuko kanako kay nagselos man na siya sa mga artista nga akong gidala diri sa Cebu. Especially Pops Fernandez, nag-duet sila ni Mayor Mike sa kanta, titled, “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang Dumating sa Buhay Ko”. At nag-holding hands pa sila, sweet na sweet, namatay siya sa kaseselos mao na ako iyang gibaslan,” Annabelle was quoted saying of Pesquera.

Annabelle said she couldn’t believe that she lost by a wide margin if only Team Rama sent its watchers to safeguard her votes.

Annabelle got 35,842 votes while the winner, Raul Del Mar got 134,180.

“I’m just new in this business. I don’t know about anything what’s going on. I was just surprised ngano walay nag-count sa Team Rama sa akong votes ug wala akong watchers; walay lawyer in-charge sa election day. I was super shocked two hours after closing time, I received a text message informing me about the result, daog na kuno ang akong kaatbang unsa man na gi-magic? Kang Mayor Mike and (Vice Mayor Edgar) Labella two days nag-counting ang ako two hours lang?” Annabelle said in a press statement.

Mayor Rama refused to comment on the issue when asked about Annabelle’s claims during a luncheon meeting with Cebu Daily News editors and columnists last June.

“Ayaw gyud mo paghilabot ana (Don’t dip your hands into the issue),” he said.

The mayor said the issue was a family concern and that the Ramas were raised to settle differences among themselves.

Annabelle later said she was not interested in filing an election protest.

She said she felt betrayed by her relatives.

“Gibaligya kos akong mga ig-agaw traydor kaayo (My cousins sold me out, they are traitors),” she said in her e-mail to the media.

“The number one lesson I learned from running is don’t trust anyone except your immediate family, they should be the only people who will know about your plans for a successful candidacy.”