Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Rama wants Mary Ann for ABC
FORMER Cebu City councilor and returning Basak San Nicolas Barangay Chief George Rama is a staunch Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) member who helped orchestrate the downfall of a few opposition candidates in the recent village elections.
But his choice for the next Cebu City Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president is Lahug Barangay Captain Mary Ann de los Santos, not Talamban’s Alvin Arcilla or Labangon’s Felix Abella.
De los Santos ran against Mayor Tomas Osmeña, BO-PK standard-bearer, in the May 14 elections.
But that did not stop Rama from admiring her managerial skills and divulging his personal choice as the successor of ABC president Eugenio Faelnar, also of BO-PK.
The Guadalupe barangay captain earlier said he is not seeking reelection to concentrate on his barangay.
“She is the most qualified. She is good in management, which is most important in the ABC. Next is Abella, last is Arcilla,” Rama told Sun.Star in an interview.
The ABC president sits in the Cebu City Council.
Rama was one of four Cebu City barangay captains who were guest speakers in yesterday’s 888 News Forum at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
He also warned criminal elements to stay away from his barangay because peace and order is his flagship project for the next three years. He recalled that when he was barangay captain, no robbery or theft incidents happened in Basak San Nicolas.
Today, he said, such crimes are so rampant that even his cousin, 888 anchor Ricky Poca, got victimized by akyat-bahay (burglary) gangs inside the Rama compound.
Rama, who ran unopposed, promised to come up with more projects after noting the people’s discontent against outgoing Barangay Captain Mario Susaya, who got elected as barangay councilor.
Susaya, Rama said, had very few projects so that instead of being elected as number one councilor, he came out last with a lead of just four votes over the eighth-ranked candidate.
Newly elected Punta Princesa Barangay Captain Rolly Diorico, meanwhile, said he will prioritize solving the massive traffic gridlock along the stretch of road by the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish each day. (RHM)
