SINCE almost everyone is talking about the Naga City landslide that wiped out Sitio Sindulan in Barangay Tina-an, I’d rather tackle the upcoming elections.
But before anything else, our sincere condolences to the families of those who died or are still missing in the landslide in sitios of Tagaytay and Sindulan. Indeed, it was a tragedy.
With only a few weeks before the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC), talks as to who will run for vice mayor in Cebu City have surfaced. Although former mayor Mike Rama has decided to run for vice mayor (partnering with Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, the nominated bet for mayor of PDP-Laban and Barug), some of his party mates are hesitant because of the drug protector tag pinned on him by no less than President Duterte.
Also, talks have it that Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino doesn’t want Rama to run under the PDP-Laban for the same reason. President Duterte has not yet withdrawn his accusation against Rama.
The other concern, this time by another member of the local chapter of the PDP-Laban, is that no one would sign his certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA), a requirement if a candidate runs under an accredited political party.
A reliable source said that the person designated and authorized by the national leadership of the PDP-Laban to sign the CONA for Cebu candidates is Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. This despite the request of a Cebuano congressman that the district congressmen should do it for candidates in the cities and municipalities of Cebu.
Meanwhile, Councilor Dave Tumulak denied rumors he would be Labella’s running mate. Tumulak was a Barug Team Rama member in the last elections but later bolted the party and joined the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
According to a source, the local PDP-Laban prefers Councilor Edu Rama, the nephew of former mayor Rama, as Labella’s running mate and wants Mike Rama to run for Congress in the south district, the bailiwick of the Ramas. For whatever reason, Mike Rama is allegedly not interested in the congressional seat.
The BOPK is experiencing the same dilemma as to who would be its candidate for vice mayor. Former city councilor Nestor Archival, who ran but lost to Labella in the last polls, is no longer running again for vice mayor but perhaps prefers to run for councilor instead.
The other day, the name of south district Rep. Bebot Abellanosa surfaced as possible Osmeña running mate. Abellanosa though still has one term for Congress. City Councilor Margot Osmeña reportedly would run for congress if Abellanosa agrees to run for vice mayor.
Before this, the names of City Councilors Mary Ann delos Santos and Tumulak were floated as possible BOPK candidates for vice mayor. While they may be interested, the final decision, according to a source, rests with Mayor Osmeña.
As a seasoned and pragmatic politician, the mayor may decide using the result of a survey that he would commission. Someone said it is even possible that Labella would just run for vice mayor as he still has one term.
Osmeña maintained that he will not join any national party. But a source said it is possible the BOPK would affiliate with PDP-Laban or the Hugpong Pagbabago of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. If this happens, which national party will the group of Vice Mayor Labella join?