Mike hopes Kusug will support his whole slate

CEBU, Philippines - After being formally endorsed Sunday by Kugi Uswag Sugbo (KUSUG) party, reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama hopes his entire slate will also be backed by the party.

“I am hoping and praying that the whole Team Rama will be endorsed by KUSUG party,” Rama told reporters referring to his whole list of candidates for councilors in both north and south districts.

The four initially endorsed “wholeheartedly accepted” the endorsement, Rama added.

KUSUG earlier promised to announce its list of endorsed candidates for councilors where an initial number of five for each district were to come from Team Rama.

But this was not materialized as the body decided to endorse only four, namely Mayor Mike Rama, vice mayoralty candidate Edgar Labella, and congressional aspirants lawyer Aristotle Batuhan for South District and talent manager Annabelle Rama for North District.

KUSUG president lawyer Raymond Garcia earlier explained the initial report was a “personal opinion” and not of the party’s.

The party plans to later announce its list of endorsed candidates for councilor.

Most of Team Rama candidates were present during KUSUG’s party convention and formal endorsement, who even danced the party’s jingle led by Rama and his cousin, Annabelle, joined by her better half, actor Eddie Guttierez.

Rama’s former partner, now archrival Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña, earlier said the endorsement is a “merger of losers” which the mayor said he is getting used to his opponent’s reactions.

“I don’t know how he is thinking. I couldn’t really imagine why such pronouncement would come from his mouth. I haven’t heard any favorable pronouncement,” he added. —/MBG (FREEMAN)