BZZZZZ asked "insiders" of Cebu's rival parties in Cebu City on probable candidates in the 2022 elections. Here are some names floated around:
Tomas, Margot dark horses
At Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), for mayor: Representative Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa, who is completing his third and last consecutive term as congressman in the south district; or Franklyn Ong, ABC president and councilor representing the federation of barangay councils in the city.
There may be ready replacement bets if conditions change. Or contenders may hide their plan until the last chance for substitution. Under either category are former mayor Tomas Osmeña and his wife former councilor Margot Osmeña.
The talk is that Margot doesn't want her husband to run for health reasons. In a January 11 interview (The Not So Late Night Show with Jason Monteclar), Tomas didn't categorically say whether he'd run again to reclaim City Hall, which he lost to Mayor Edgardo Labella in the 2019 elections. He said he'd see who'd be running on the Partido Barug side.
As to Margot, in September 2018, less than a year before completing her third and last term, she said she was retiring from politics. She said then, "I volunteered to run... eight years ago? A very long time ago. Circumstances then prodded me. Those circumstances are not present anymore and I don't have any political ambitions."
Margot didn't tell what the circumstances were. What if BOPK by October would need a contender stronger than Abellanosa or Ong and her husband Tomas could run only at great risk to his health? Under certain circumstances, it could be Margot for mayor.
As to vice mayor, there are the "old reliable" such as Nestor Archival, minority floor leader, and Joy Young, former vice mayor (2010-2013) and party-list representative for Promdi (1998-2001). Archival lost a bid for the VM's seat in 2016.
Edgar-Mike gihapon?
On ruling party Partido Barug's side, the latest indicators are that Vice Mayor Michael Rama would run again for the same post. Earlier, starting in the last quarter of 2020, Mike repeatedly said he wouldn't run for the same position, without stating the position he preferred. Though still ambiguous, the tease was enough to fuel speculation he'd run for mayor and possibly oppose the incumbent mayor. Firming it up was his "checks and balance" stance on the 2021 budget and the P3.5-billion Covid fund spending.
Lately, however, VM Rama said publicly, at least twice, that he would not endanger his party's changes and would be ready to sacrifice if needed.
It could be a Labella-Rama tandem again, unless Mike would act up again, as he did for a number of months last year until he got what he apparently wanted: larger participation of the Sanggunian, which necessarily brings a bigger role for himself, in the campaign against the pandemic. He became the leader of Vaccines Board, although he demurely tossed back the title "vaccine czar" to the mayor.
Possible congressionables
Who are the possible candidates for House member in Cebu City?
[1] For the city's north district, vacated by the death of Raul Del Mar last November 16, 2020, these names have been talked about: former congresswoman Cutie del Mar of BOPK; TV sitcom star Richard Yap, who lost to the late Del Mar in 2019; Councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid; and Councilor Raymond Garcia of Barug.
Although Cutie Del Mar and the supporters of her late dad expect Tomas Osmeña to support Cutie, the BOPK chief still has to announce it. But then Osmeña has not yet publicly picked the candidates in their slate.
Yap, the talk among some Barug people says, may be invoking "the equity of the loser." Since he sacrificed by fighting in the 2019 election against a political giant, he should be given another chance at a less formidable opponent. But there are two others talked about in the Barug ranks, both councilors: Mabatid and Garcia. Councilor Prisca Niña has been making sorties since last year supposedly to help pandemic victims, but with no regard of the north-south boundaries. Councilor Raymond Alvin, as majority floor leader, has been hitting high marks as legislator and co-implementor of some big-ticket projects of the city. In last Friday, May 8 special session, BOPK's Councilor Alvin Dizon intentional slipped and called Garcia congressman.
[2] In the south district, these names have surfaced: former city councilor Joy Pesquera who ran and lost under the Barug banner in 2019; and Totol Batuhan who ran and lost in 2001, 2004, and 2013 (also under Barug in his third race.)
It is not yet known who will take the BOPK banner from Abellanosa who beat a succession of Barug aspirants: Batuhan in 2013, former city councilor Gerry Carillo in 2016, and Joy Pesquera in 2019. Earlier, there were talks that a son of Bebot might vie for his seat but they didn't gain traction.
Margot Osmeña is also considered a possible BOPK star to launch for the city's House seat in the south, that is, if she ends her announced retirement from politics. Her husband Tomas served as congressman from 2010 to 2013 but his stint was marked with little enthusiasm on his part and unremarkable service for his district.
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