Results of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections where majority of the barangay captains allied with the administration’s Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) is a preclude to the 2019 mid-term elections. The administration will still win that election if the local opposition will not unite.
Sources said that the opposition is now divided with the formation of Barug PDP-Laban headed by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and with the backing of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino. The group fielded candidates for barangay captains, especially in bigger barangays, with Dino personally choosing the candidates. Dino wanted to dismantle the political structure of the “former political has-been” for personal and political reason. In fact he financed some of these candidates but he failed to get the majority. Of the 80 barangays in Cebu City, the result was 49 against 31 in favor of BOPK.
“Has-been” mayor Mike Rama also fielded his own candidates in preparation for his mayoralty bid in next year’s elections. That situation triggered confusion among voters who support the opposition. In an interview with broadcaster/columnist Atty. Frank Malilong in his Frankahay Ta program over radio dyCM, Rama announced his intention to regain control of City Hall next year.
Rama claimed that he was cheated in the 2016 election that is why he lost. Poor Mike. He is still in the state of “daydreaming” and has never moved on. Mr. Rama has yet to prove that he was cheated by the “former political has-been” in that election. I was told he even abandoned his protests. Don’t focus only on the “cheating” aspect, Mr. Rama. Why don’t you assess yourself, including your character and attitude, to determine why you lost in that election by more than 30,000 votes? Nasobrahan ra ka sa imong ka arogante ug kahambugero Mike sa dihang diha pa ka sa gahum. Apil ang mga maestra ug mga empliyado sa City Hall imong bugal-bugalan pinaagi sa pagpaligid-ligid nila. Nawad-an na kag respito nila.
He announced his intention to run because he was encouraged by a survey conducted by the prestigious Social Weather Station (SWS) commissioned by a certain lawyer that he has a high trust rating compared to PA Dino. I am just wondering why the survey compared Rama to Dino when the latter is not a politician. Rama should be pitted against the “former political has-been,” who is his nemesis in the city. Mismatched.
The reported “breakup” of the opposition is because of Dino’s entry. Rama and Labella’s relationship has become “lukewarm” because of the fact Rama felt that Labella is a threat to his political ambition and because of Dino’s open support for Labella. As far as Dino is concerned, Labella is the best bet to topple the city’s occupant. Rama carries an extra baggage as he was on President Duterte’s narco-list. Besides, Dino holds the funding like what happened in the last barangay elections.
Even opposition councilors are divided. A group supports Labella’s bid while some are still with Rama. Even in the use of the group’s name in media releases. The group of Labella wants to be called Barug-PDP Laban while Rama wants to retain the original name, Barug Team Rama.
If the group cannot be united until the filing of the certificates of candidacy, the “former political has-been” will have the last laugh. The result of the last barangay elections is a lesson learned for the group that if its members cannot put their acts together, it will be political suicide and a disaster for them.
“United we stand, divided we fall,” as the saying goes. One has to make a sacrifice to achieve his political desire so the City can be freed from the bondage of political tyranny from the current City Hall occupant.