MAYOR Tomas Osmeña and Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos will be the official candidates of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) for mayor and vice mayor in Cebu City, respectively, in the 2019 midterm elections.
The announcement was made during a gathering of around 3,000 supporters in Barangay Lahug yesterday.
Osmeña said the BOPK will be running under the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) as its national party because the group is “very neutral.”
BOPK used to be with the Liberal Party (LP), but Osmeña said they decided to transfer after the national group junked his brother, former senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, in the last election.
“Serge Osmeña will make a special announcement on the 15th,” he added.
Even if they are now with the LDP, the mayor said his support of Vice President Leni Robredo, who is still with LP, will continue.
The BOPK also announced its complete slate for next year’s elections.
In the south district, Rep. Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa will seek reelection, while Councilors Dave Tumulak and Eugenio Gabuya Jr. will also run again for another term.
New aspirants for a seat in the City Council include former Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Rengelle Pelayo, Inayawan Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo, Guadalupe Barangay Captain Michael Gacasan, former board member and city councilor Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, City Hall’s Human Resource Department Office head Marie Velle “Amay” Abella and Department of Public Services head Roberto Cabarrubias.
In the north district, Rep. Raul Del Mar will also seek reelection, while re-electionists in the City Council will include Councilors Jerry Guardo, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla and Joy Augustus Young.
New aspirants in the north district include Dr. Marlo Maamo, former councilors Alvin Dizon, Nestor Archival Sr. and Lea Japson.
The aspirants under BOPK are expected to file their certificate of candidacy tomorrow.
In her speech, de los Santos said running for a higher post is a bigger responsibility, but she is thankful for the opportunity.
“Today, another challenge has come my way to run as vice mayor to Mayor Tommy Osmeña. It is a privilege from my humble beginnings from Barangay Lahug, which rightfully shares this honor to represent a higher office if elected in May 2019. I will continue to champion what I started,” she said.
If she wins, de los Santos will become the first female vice mayor of the city.
In the past, Osmeña and de los Santos, who was previously with Kugi Uswag Sugbo (Kusug), were rivals. They even faced off in the 2007 mayoral elections.
De los Santos was elected councilor in the Cebu City north district in 2013, after Kusug allied with Team Rama of former mayor Michael Rama.
De los Santos is currently serving her second term as a city councilor.
In August 2015, de los Santos officially announced that she was leaving Team Rama and joining BOPK.