Tomas denies cracks in BOPK

CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña dispelled insinuations from the opposition that “cracks” in the administration party are starting to show.

The Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) remains strong, the mayor asserted.

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Osmeña was upset when Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who is running for mayor as the party’s standard-bearer, said earlier he is willing to cooperate with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for the good of Cebu.

Opposition leaders described Rama’s statement as the sign of a “crack” in the BOPK.

Insisting that the BOPK is not weak, the mayor said opposition leaders are merely suffering from delusion because they don’t have a chance to win.

“They’re hoping and praying that something might happen. They’re hoping and praying that I will die. I got sick, and (they’re) praying that I will support them. No way,” Osmeña said.

Nothing broken

He also clarified that there’s nothing to be fixed between him and the vice mayor because nothing was broken.

The mayor admitted, though, that he has no other choice but to support Rama’s candidacy.

Osmeña said Rama’s statement is critical particularly to the urban poor, as it can affect his candidacy for mayor.

He said he cannot allow the province to continue harassing the urban poor, especially those who are living in the province-owned lots in the city.

In reaction to his statement, urban poor groups met with Rama yesterday and asked him for clarification.

Rama, in turn, assured the urban poor groups and even made a written statement that he will help them come up with a solution to their tenurial problem.

The pledge read: “I am Michael L. Rama, vice mayor of Cebu City, pledge that if voted upon as mayor of this city will undertake for the expeditious solution to the tenurial issue cover 93-1 and Presidential Proclamation 409. This pledge I will undertake to the best of my ability, so help me God.”

Alliance of Barangay Apas Community Associations president Marlene Paracuelles was satisfied with Rama’s explanation and assurance.

“We supported him from the start, although we were quite worried with his statement. He’s already clarified it, so we’re happy with what he did,” Paracuelles said in Cebuano.

But for former mayor Alvin Garcia, who is running against Rama, the vice mayor’s written statement does not say anything and is a mere “consuelo de bobo” or consolation.

Good relationship

The opposition standard bearer said the only way Rama can help with the 93-1 lot occupants is to have a good relationship with Governor Garcia.

“The best way to work that out is to have good relations with the governor because the province owns it. His pledge doesn’t say anything. In effect, pakonswelo de bobo lang na,” Garcia said.

In Rama’s defense, Osmeña said Alvin cannot win in the coming polls, not even in the former mayor’s own precinct.

“Layo kaayo si Alvin oy. Dili siya makadaug bisan sa iyang presinto, wala gyud. Believe me, dili siya makadaug,” Osmeña said. (Alvin is so far behind. Believe me, he can’t win even in his own precinct.)

Garcia brushed aside the mayor’s fearless forecast, saying Osmeña is not his opponent in the coming polls.

“I would rather not comment on anything he says because I don’t think he is well enough. Let him say anything na lang he wants,” Garcia said of the mayor, who had a successful cancer operation on his urinary bladder last year.

In a previous interview, Osmeña assured the public that he is neither sick nor dying.