Thursday, March 27, 2008 Carlo drops VMLP bid By Linette C. Ramos Sun.Star Staff Reporter
MANDAUE City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna will not run for the presidency of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP). Fortuna withdrew from the race last night, citing the health condition of his parents.
The withdrawal leaves Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama as the only candidate from the Visayas for the VMLP presidency in the national elections on April 18.
Rama filed yesterday afternoon his certificate of candidacy for the presidency of the VMLP, which has 1,600 members.
Fortuna, who earlier said that he has the support of the vice mayors from Central Visayas, said he would vote for Rama, whom he described as a good friend.
Fortuna would not say, though, if there would be a solid vote for Rama in Cebu and the three other provinces in the region.
“After weeks of reflection, I have concluded that while I may have been physically and emotionally prepared for this tough campaign, I may not, however, be certain of my mental focus because of concerns at home that far outweigh my bid for the presidency,” he said.
Fortuna said the physical condition of his parents and their need for medical treatment would require his time and attention and would keep him from campaigning.
“It is in this light that I have decided to withdraw, which I believe will be to the best interest of everybody, especially those who have supported me, to whom I am very grateful, lest I do an injustice to them,” he said.
In a phone interview last night, he said the decision was personal and not a concession on his part.
He is also not considering running for a lower position and said he would rather devote his time to his parents.
“What is important now is for Mike (Rama) to go around and to touch base with the vice mayors from Central Visayas. Before I decided to withdraw, I already had the backing of Region 7. So now that I am not running, I don’t know what the scenario will be like,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
Ready
Nights before filing his certificate of candidacy, Rama said he visited Fortuna at his house in Mandaue City to campaign but he did not see him there and decided to leave his campaign card instead.
Fortuna and Rama first announced their plans to run for the league’s presidency last month, raising concerns on a possible tug-of-war over the votes from Visayas vice mayors.
Both vice mayors proposed that only one of them would run so there would be a solid vote from the Visayas, but no agreement was reached on who between them would pursue the post.
With Fortuna out of the race, Rama would now be running against the vice mayors from Antipolo City and Batac in Ilocos.
“I am prepared for the election. I have been ready from the time I expressed my intention to run,” Rama said in an interview before Fortuna announced his decision to withdraw. (LCR)
