Bzzzzz: Intramurals, ‘power struggle’ in Team Rama?

NEW LEADER. Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III started speculations when he said last May 31 that there’s “no conflict” within the opposition, referring to Team Rama, aka Barug Team Rama aka Barug-PDP Laban. They just want “a new leader,” Daluz said.

Just like, “No problem in the family. Mom just wants to replace dad with another man in the house.”

That of course sent the rumor mill working, sending off theories, including these: 1) Barug-PDP Laban members want to stop former mayor Mike Rama from shooting off his mouth about wanting to run for mayor again; and 2) others in the opposition want to end the uncertainty over the question of leadership.

The major problem is whether Mike would agree to being shut out from the party that he formed and was named after him. Defection of stalwarts of the group to PDP-Laban, which doesn’t seem to want him, has created an awkward and incongruous situation.

‘Fresh pipe’

SERGE O.’S MANTRA. Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña must have learned from his brod Serge Osmeña a favorite mantra of the former senator: latch on to the message. don’t give it up, especially if it seems to work.

Tomas’s accusation against Mike and his group of being drug addicts doesn’t have a shred of evidence that can stand in court. If there were, police and PDEA would’ve long indicted Mike or, at least, the mayor would’ve presented it in the court of public opinion.

President Duterte, who accused Mike of protecting a drug lord, not using drugs, also has not shown any evidence.

Yet, Tomas keeps repeating the message, a Serge O. advocacy. Tomas’s latest repetition was last week (June 6) when he FB-posted: “Poor Mike. Even his own party wants a fresh pipe for Team Suyop.”

‘Basket of solutions’

Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade called what would solve Cebu’s traffic problem “a basket of solutions.” Reminiscent of Hillary Clinton’s reference to a “basket of deplorables” in describing half of Donald Trump’s supporters in the 2016 elections.

It cost Hillary the presidency; in her new book, she cited it as among the reasons for her defeat. As to Tugade’s basket, Cebuanos, notably Nigel Paul Villarete, would like to see what are in it.