WILL Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella’s allies have the majority in the Cebu City Council?

In his speech after he took his oath of office on Sunday, June 30, 2019, Labella hinted that his party now has the majority after Councilors Dave Tumulak and Jerry Guardo went up the stage and joined Barug PDP Laban councilors for their oath-taking.

Both Tumulak and Guardo are allies of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) but have expressed support for Labella’s administration.

Whether or not their support would translate to Barug PDP Laban getting the majority will be known during the Council’s inaugural session this afternoon, Tuesday, where the transfer could be formalized. The chairperson and members of 20 Council committees will also be named.

Guardo, who was proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc as the eighth Cebu City north district councilor yesterday, Monday, will take his oath of office this morning and attend this afternoon’s session.

Seven of the elected councilors belong to Barug. The number could increase to nine if Guardo and Tumulak officially join the party.

With that scenario, BOPK will also be left with nine councilors, including the presidents of the Association of Barangay Councils and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation.

The BOPK, however, may lose one slot to Barug if Councilor Sisinio Andales suffers the same fate as former councilor Alvin Arcilla.

The Comelec en banc has cancelled the certificate of candidacy of both Andales and Arcilla after it had ruled that they both have reached their term limit after completing three terms.

Andales, though, has not been served yet a certificate of finality and writ of execution.

If the en banc decision becomes final and executory, Andales will be replaced by Joel Garganera, who ranked 10th among the candidates for councilor in the north district.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama would not say what will happen in today’s session. He said, though, that whatever the Council decides on would be for the good of the city.

Labella is expected to attend the inaugural session of the 15th Sangguniang Panlungsod where he will address the councilors. (from PAC of SuperBalita Cebu/LRC)