After saying he won't: Tom endorses Mike for mayor

CEBU, Philippines – After everything, Vice Mayor Michael Rama is still Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s choice to be his bet in the 2010 elections.

Osmeña yesterday confirmed to The Freeman that he will endorse Rama as the standard bearer of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) next year.

“I was always committed to Rama. I just could not stand why he would make ‘sipsip’ to Gwen (Governor Garcia) and publicly apologize to Jonah (Jonah John Rodriguez) and declare him a good friend,” Osmeña said in a text message sent to The Freeman.

In yesterday’s press conference Osmeña said that he already sensed that Rama is now taking a stand against the governor.

Osmeña in his last return to Cebu in March prior to his urinary bladder surgery was very vocal against almost all actions made by Rama when he was acting as mayor in his absence.

The issue sparked when a signature campaign was circulating among members of the Association Barangay Councils (ABC) withdrawing their support against Rama and pushing for City Education Consultant Joy Augustus Young and First Lady Margot Osmeña.

For allegedly sleeping with the enemies, Osmeña publicly announced his withdrawal of support for Rama and said that he will campaign for outgoing Cebu City North District Congressman Raul del Mar should he decide to run.

But during the ABC general assembly held over the weekend, ABC president and Guadalupe barangay captain Eugenio Faelnar confirmed that Osmeña has made public his support for Rama.

Osmeña, according to Faelnar, urged the barangay captains to give Rama a chance to lead the city.

“Sigun sa pronouncement ni Tommy during the general assembly niingon sya nga we will just give Mike a chance to manage the city,” Faelnar said.

Barangay Santo Niño captain Pancho Ramirez, one of the initiators of the signature campaign also confirmed the mayor’s statement.

When asked if he would support the Vice Mayor now that he was endorsed by Osmeña, he said he will certainly be behind him.

“Wa tay mahimo ana kay mao may giingon ni Bosing (Osmeña), so ato paluyuhan kay sa ako tan-aw si Mike naman gyud ang iya ituboy,” Ramirez said.

But for the other initiator of the signature campaign, Pit-os barangay captain Nilo Tariman, the mayor’s endorsement could not change his stand against Rama.

“Dili gyud ko, basta kay dili ko kay daan naman ko gaingon nga dili gyud ko ganahan ni Mike, nagtuo gihapon ko nga dili gyud siya ang ituboy ni mayor,” according to Tariman, who was however absent in last Saturday’s general assembly.

Rama for his part said he is very grateful that Osmeña gave his endorsement.

“I am very happy and I am thanking him for that. I hope and pray that no event will disturb it,” Rama said.

Rama has been tagged responsible for the calling off of the proposed land swap deal between the city and province for the 5,000 families who were beneficiaries of Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

Rama hit the proposal in a privilege speech in the council resulting to the Provincial Board calling it off.

Osmeña branded Rama’s words as “publicly humiliating” his position. —/NLQ