Team Rama gets nominations from UNA

CEBU CITY -- Mayor Michael Rama and the rest of his team will be filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) Friday morning with a certificate of nomination issued by the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), actress and congressional aspirant Anabelle Rama confirmed on Wednesday.

Anabelle said the certificate of nomination and acceptance for all of Team Rama’s candidates, except hers, arrived last Tuesday night. She received hers on Wednesday.

Both Team Rama and Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) candidates are expected to file their COCs at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City office on Friday morning.

But former Cebu City south district congressman Raul del Mar and daughter Representative Rachel “Cutie” del Mar (Cebu City, south district) have yet to decide who between them will run in 2013.

In a press conference at the Capitol Site, Cebu City barangay hall on Wednesday, Raul said both of them prepared their COCs but it would be up to his daughter to decide which document will be filed before the Comelec.

Either way, Raul said, they will go to the Comelec along with other members of the BOPK on Friday yet.

Gathering

The confirmation on the UNA-Team Rama alliance was made just an hour after at least 1,000 of their allies gathered at the Aznar Coliseum in Barangay Sambag I to show their support for the group in a miting de avance-like activity Wednesday afternoon.

Team Rama called it a consultative assembly and dubbed the event “Panag-abot,” where they announced their agenda and their priorities if they get elected.

Rama, his runningmate lawyer Edgardo Labella and congressional aspirants Anabelle (north district) and lawyer Aristotle Batuhan (south district) introduced themselves to the crowd and asked them to vote straight for Team Rama, so the City could have an executive department that is supported by the legislative body.

The candidates took turns speaking before the crowd, but the loudest applause went to Anabelle, who promised to prioritize the construction of drainage projects, health centers, learning centers and school buildings in the north district.

She also promised to give the senior citizens food cards worth P12,000 every year, and to increase the allowances of teachers if she is elected congresswoman.

Degree

“Ang akong kontra muingon nga wala kuno ko kahuman og college… Ang pagserbisyo sa tawo gikan na sa kasing-kasing. Dili kinahanglan nga maayo ka muiningles, nga nakagraduate ka. Basta ako dili ko mukuhag komisyon sa tanang proyekto… ako muserbisyo ko ninyo, dili negosyo akong tuyo (My opponent would say I didn’t finish college but public service comes from the heart; you do not need to be fluent in English or have a college degree. I will not get kickbacks from projects; I am not here to make profit),” she told Team Rama’s supporters.

She will face either Cutie or her father Raul, whom she criticized for not doing anything except fund the construction of sports complexes.

In a press conference after the gathering, she said it doesn’t matter who among the del Mars will run against her.

“I really don’t care, bisag kinsa nilang duha, andam ra ko. Bisag sila pang duha, andam sad ko. Si Cutie, kayang-kaya na pero sa akong nadunggan mas bug-at si Raul kay 23 years siya congressman (I am ready to face either of them, even both of them. Cutie would be easy but I heard Raul can be a challenge because he was congressman for 23 years),” Anabelle said.

Decision

The del Mars said they are not fighting over who will run in 2013.

“I believe it should be Cutie who will seek reelection because she has done better than what I expected. Cutie deserves a second term because aside from continuing my projects, she has also been able to do her part in the legislative aspect,” Raul said.

His daughter said it should be him as he can still do many things.

“I’ll let him run now because I am still young and I can wait for another time for me in Congress,” she said.

On Anabelle’s allegation they have not done anything except build sports complexes, the del Mars said they will let residents in the north district judge their performance.

Other bets

Mayor Rama has remained mum about running under UNA, a coalition formed between the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino of former President Joseph Estrada, though.

Other candidates who were introduced on Wednesday were former city councilors Sylvan Jakosalem and Edwin Jagmoc, Ermita Barangay Councilor Felicisimo Rupinta, Lahug barangay councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, Sambag I barangay captain Jerry Guardo, Agsungot barangay captain Jong Alcover, Busay barangay captain Eleodoro Sanchez and Boobi Kintanar as candidates for city councilor in the north.

For the south district, Basak barangay captain Dave Tumulak, former city councilor Procopio Fernandez, Poblacion Pardo Councilor Altea Lim, Inayawan Councilor Lotlot Ignacio-Soon, businessman Rady Diola, radio personality Tricia Ylaya, Hanz Abella and James Cuenco were introduced as candidates for councilor.

In his speech, Councilor Labella promised the crowd that if he, Rama and all their bets for councilor are elected, the city will have a City Council that supports the mayor’s agenda and projects while maintaining a check and balance at City Hall.

When sought for comment, Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said the City Council cannot be expected to support Mayor Rama, “who doesn’t know what he’s doing.” (LRC of Sun.Star Cebu)