IN his speeches during Christmas parties in some barangays in the city, “has-been” mayor Michael Rama told his audience that he will run in the 2019 elections against the “former political has-been.” This “shocked” some of his barangay captain-supporters, especially those who are already committed to support Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who is being groomed as the candidate for mayor of the opposition Barug-PDP Laban.
As a result, some opposition supporters are now in quandary. Majority of the barangay captains identified with Barug, most of the opposition councilors and their mass base are inclined to support Labella as standard bearer. Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino has been publicly endorsing Labella. Rama has been named by President Rodrigo Duterte as a drug protector.
Well, its still more than a year before the 2019 elections and many things can still happen. But if Rama and Labella both wants to run for mayor in 2019, I would advise them against it because they cannot win against the present City Hall occupant.
How can they win when their supporters would be divided while those of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) would be intact? The voters of Mike are also the voters for Labella. Mike lost by some 35,000 votes to the “former political has-been” in the 2016 elections. Maybe Rama and Labella will lose more if both decide to run.
There is such thing as personal sacrifice, and one of them has to sacrifice if they want to dismantle the political empire of the “former political has-been.” And who should sacrifice? If you ask me, it should be Mike. He claimed that he is running because he wants to free the Cebuanos from the political harassment and vindictiveness of his rival. Can’t Labella also do that?
Mike has an extra baggage to carry. The President tagged him as a drug protector, an image that he will carry forever until cleared by him. Well, nobody can stop Rama from running because he is qualified to do so, but he should think about his shattered image.
It has affected not only his supporters but also his campaign fund contributors. Its a mid-presidential election and the city’s opposition can expect support from the national leadership. But would Duterte endorse Rama?
I am not promoting Labella, but he has a clean image with unquestioned integrity and credibility and is acceptable to all quarters, including the campaign fund contributors.
Mike should rethink his position. Redeem yourself first, Mike, before you decide to run. Don’t let your greed and political ambition rule over your mind. Paminawa ang pulso sa publiko ug ang singgit sa haring lungsod.
u2022••
My condolences to the family of Cebu Daily News columnist Ricky Rama Poca, who passed away yesterday. I was shocked when I received a text message about it from his cell phone yesterday morning while I was driving to the station. The text message was from his domestic partner, Gin Lasola.
Rick and I exchanged greetings last Christmas. The following day, he was dead. Ricky was one of my first few friends in the media when I transferred to Cebu from Zamboanga City in the late 80’s. We call each other “Senior.” Descanse en paz, Senior Ricky.