SOME barangay captains who are not supportive of Vice Mayor Michael Rama will support Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district) if he decides to run for mayor,
and if they find him more qualified.

But Talamban Barangay Captain Alvin Arcilla said that should Cuenco decide to run for mayor, he should lay down his platform of government and show the north district constituents what he has done for the south district.

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Local opposition leader Jonathan “Atan” Guardo yesterday said the proposed Antonio Cuenco-Alvin Garcia pairing for the Cebu City Hall has elicited positive feedback from barangay captains, political leaders, business and among their ranks.

“Everyone has been saying it is a very powerful tandem, more powerful than that of Mike Rama and Joy Young (of the administration party),” he said.

Arcilla is one of eight barangay captains under the jurisdiction of Police Station 8 or the Talamban Police Station.

Based on his discussions with his fellow barangay captains, he said they are willing to support Cuenco if he can show them he is qualified.

“Ug mas qualified siya, bisag dili siya i-endorse sa BOPK, ato siyang suportaan (If he happens to be more qualified, we should back him up with or without an endorsement from Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan),” Arcilla said.

For now, though, Arcilla will stick to the manifesto he and 57 other barangay captains signed earlier, which endorsed First Lady Margot Osmeña for mayor.

But in his news conference yesterday, the mayor said everything is still fluid as far as BOPK is concerned, and he has not discussed politics seriously with his wife yet.

Osmeña said he is still interested in fielding Margot to lead the council slate in the south district, so that barangay captains will have an ally in the City Council.

“It’s not a question of whether or not she’s qualified because she’s more than qualified. It has a lot to do with the day-to-day activities at City Hall, because the barangay captains are afraid they have no one to run to. But everything is very fluid right now,” he said.

Osmeña also reiterated that he will give Rama the chance to run for mayor after serving as vice mayor for three successive terms, and committed to help him if he becomes mayor.

“Most of my team will be there to support him because you can’t run City Hall by yourself,” he said, referring to City Administrator Francisco Fernandez, consultants and department heads who help him run the City Government.

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Cuenco, incumbent Cebu City south district representative, earlier said that though he has not refused, he is still “meditating” on the offer. He admitted he would like to become an ambassador after his term expires next year.

Garcia, a former Cebu City mayor and vice mayor, has also said the combination is one of a few possibilities the opposition is considering.

“The mere fact that he (Cuenco) has not closed his mind to that proposal is already a good start. I know it is not an easy decision (because) you have to ponder on a lot
of things—organization, machinery, resources,” Guardo said.

He said that Cuenco has been helping barangay captains even though he has been kicked out from the BOPK.

“Barangay captains continue to approach him for their projects, which he has consistently provided,” Guardo said.

“To think that Cuenco only has P70 million in his PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Funds) versus the P2.5-billion budget for the city. So I think that Tony has efficiently and effectively used his budget very well. The reason there is a breakdown in the delivery of basic services is because the City is saddled with too much debt,” Guardo added.