It's Moreno, or not
NO ANNOUNCEMENT YET. One Cabu has not decided yet on its choices for president and vice president. It could be "well after November 15," Governor Gwen Garcia earlier warned.
But the photo here released middle of this week, with the governor in an intimate scene with presidential bet Isko Moreno Domagoso at the Capitol, revved up speculation that the lucky man is the Manila mayor.
The guess is that One Cebu leaders await the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte on the majority party's choice of the man who will succeed him.
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The 'big news,' so far
On Wednesday, December 8, Partido Panaghiusa, which is allied with two other local parties Barug and Kusug for the 2022 elections, announced that it has decided to support an Isko Moreno-Sara Duterte-Carpio national ticket. As a party, Joey Daluz said, "we have to choose candidates who will be best for the country."
Former Cebu City councilor Jose "Joey" Daluz III -- MCWD board chairman and broadcaster-politician Inday Nita Daluz's son who revived Panaghiusa -- made the disclosure amid speculation that the faction of the late mayor Edgardo Labella and Joey Daluz might break away from the Barug-Kusug-Panaghiusa alliance.
Casas largely fueled the rumor by his (a) pre-funeral speech, which hinted of betrayal, "plastikay" and "consequences," and (b) social media posts, which said there would be "big news in the next few days" after the mayor's December 3 burial.
Also last Wednesday, it was announced that Casas has been designated Panaghiusa president who is expected to continue the political and public-interest plans of Labella.
Thus the "big news" so far: (1) the party having picked Moreno and Duterte-Carpio as presidential and VP bets of Panaghiusa and (2) Casas having been handpicked to lead the local party.
IT'S STILL MIKE RAMA. On the "will it-won't it" question of the Labella-Daluz faction dropping the Rama-Garcia ticket, Daluz was quoted in a news report, thus: "(We) will continue to endorse Mayor Michael Rama and Councilor Raymond Garcia. We believe that Mike Rama is the best candidate for mayor."
Daluz, on Eric S. Manait's "Bara de Kabra" on dyCM Thursday, December 9, said Panaghiusa is "committed" to support the local candidates of Barug, stressing that his party honors its commitment. Panaghiusa's commitment, however, Daluz said, does not include national candidates. He told Manait there is no conflict ("walay panagbikil") within the Barug-Kusug-Panaghiusa coalition.
Daluz didn't say what City Hall watchers think would happen in case of a split of the two factions: "Easy sailing for Margot (Osmeña) and (Franklyn) Ong."
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Tomas bumps off Kiko for Tito
BOPK chief Tomas Osmeña on Wednesday, December 8, said his party "will offer support to Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto who's running for vice president. Earlier, the former city mayor picked Vice President Leni Robredo as BOPK's candidate for president.
Meaning, these are being rejected by Osmeña/BOPK: all the other candidates for president but Leni -- and all other VP bets except Tito. In the race for the No. 2 post, Senator Kiko Pangilinan particularly, who's part of the Robredo-Pangilinan package, is being dumped by the city's minority party in favor of Tito.
As to the local majority party, Mayor Mike Rama awaits the choices of President Duterte for the national slate. With the exit of Senators "Bato" de la Rosa and Bong Go, Digong still has to make up his mind whom to endorse as president. Rama says Barug, being allied with PDP-Laban, will be guided or controlled by Duterte's decision.
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