Thursday, September 04, 2008 Mary Ann ready to face Cutie
IF she gets nominated by the opposition, Mary Ann de los Santos sees an exciting match-up with Rachel “Cutie” del Mar for the Cebu City north district congressional seat.
The Lahug barangay captain is rumored to be running for the post Rep. Raul del Mar will vacate in 2010, which she admitted she is considering.
Cutie appears to be being groomed to take her father’s place, bolstered during the turnover last Monday of mini-buses purchased through del Mar’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Next congresswoman
The congressman’s daughter was introduced as “umaabot nga (the next) congresswoman” when she handed the symbolic key for the minibus intended for Barangay Banilad.
“One thing sure is that she is the official candidate of her father. This makes the 2010 elections for the north congressional district very exciting,” de los Santos said.
Challenge
“If I will really be running, it would be a big challenge on my part. This would be the first time in the history of the district that two women will fight for the seat,” she added.
Cutie also represented her father, being his chief of staff, during the turnover in Hipodromo and the mountain barangays of Taptap and Adlaon.
De los Santos said she understood that Cutie was taking advantage of the event to make herself more visible to north district voters.
“I understand it perfectly well, I have nothing against it. She can use the position of her father to be very visible and be in the right crowd, although we can say she was there as his chief of staff, if there is such a position,” she said.
On the mini-buses, Cutie said her father will give one to each of the 46 north district barangays before the year ends.
Accept
Asked if she will accept the minibus Cutie or del Mar will turn over to her, de los Santos said she will, even if the vehicle will be similarly marked “Serbis-yo del Mar.”
“It really doesn’t matter (if the minibus is from del Mar). It (minibus) is not from his personal funds anyway. It is for the people. Anything that will redound to the benefit of the barangay, I will accept,” said de los Santos, who challenged Mayor Tomas Osmeña in the mayoral elections of 2007. (RHM)
