Friday, March 28, 2008 Gwen backs Poro councilor's PCL bid
WITHOUT Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna in the race, Cebu City officials are more confident of Vice Mayor Michael Rama’s chances of getting the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP) presidency.
Rama said he is grateful to Fortuna for deciding not to run against him in the VMLP elections this April 18.
During the regular meeting of the VMLP-Cebu Chapter yesterday morning, the group reached a consensus to support Rama, although no formal motion or resolution was passed, Fortuna said.
“Undoubtedly, this would boost my chances in securing the presidency. In a way, this would already settle the issue on who the vice mayors from Visayas and Mindanao would support. That is why I am extending my sincerest thanks to Vice Mayor Fortuna for his laudable gesture,” Rama said.
Fortuna announced last Wednesday night that he is withdrawing from the race for personal reasons, citing the health of his parents.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said Fortuna’s move improved Rama’s chances of winning, but that the latter should worry about Luzon, where the campaign is expected to get tough.
This is the third time Rama is running for the league’s presidency. He lost during his first and second bids.
For the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL) elections, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is reportedly backing the candidacy of Poro Councilor Ronald Carcellar, who is running for national president today in Pasay City.
Carcellar decided to seek a national post in the councilors’ league, following the pronouncement of Cebu City Councilors Sylvan Jakosalem and Hilario Davide III to forgo plans of gunning for national positions in the PCL. Instead, they will help Vice Mayor Rama in his campaign.
3 bets
Carcellar paid a courtesy visit on the governor’s office last Friday, when he acknowledged that he had limited time to campaign for his candidacy.
As for the vice mayors’ league, Osmeña said that Rama actually won the first time he ran, but was cheated during that election. He is optimistic Rama has a better chance of winning this time.
“I’m glad Carlo realized that maybe that is not the way to go... So it’s definitely better for Mike now, but the problem has always been Luzon,” said Osmeña.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the last day for the filing of the certificates of candidacy, only Rama and Antipolo City Vice Mayor Danilo Leyble have filed their election documents.
In a phone interview, Rama said he will now focus his campaign on how to consolidate the votes from Visayas and Mindanao, and get some votes from Luzon. The league has some 1,600 members. (LCR/With GMD)
