Rama’s dilemma

CEBU City Mayor Mike Rama is in a dire situation and one can only sympathize with him.

After the Liberal Party (LP) certified Rep. Tomas Osmeña as its nominee for the city’s elections for mayor in 2013, Rama has been placed between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Rama was in denial for a long time hoping that his loyalty to the LP will correct what he perceived was a blunder.

He wrote a letter to President Aquino and waited, but in the end he was left in an unpleasant situation. What a price to pay for being loyal!

Now, Rama has no choice but to seek refuge under the umbrella of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). He knows he could not do it on his Team Rama alone, especially if has to beat Osmeña.

That is what UNA is there for. Any reject of the LP will be supported by UNA.

But, does this mean that Rama’s loyalty has now shifted to UNA?

Or is this simply for political expediency, knowing that he is facing an uphill battle with Osmeña?

Clearly, the LP has abandoned Rama for a more wily politician like Osmeña, yet, according to Rama, he will continue supporting Aquinos programs in government.

One wonders if Rama’s stand will sit well with the UNA leadership and he will be given the party’s full support.

One thing for sure is that Rama is a lame duck and where he is now, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, succinctly describes how desperately he is grasping the straws of his own political survival.—Jesus Sievert