Rama reveals partial lineup including ‘surprised’ bet

CEBU, Philippines - Three months before the start of the filing of the certificate of candidacy, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has  announced the partial list of candidates who will run with him in the 2016 elections.

During his regular press conference yesterday, Rama publicized that his local party “Team Rama” will be renamed as Partido Panaghiusa sa Panerbisyo-Tungod Sa Gugma-Team Rama-United Nationalist Alliance or PPP-TSG-TR-UNA. The team is contemplating to register it as a local party after the elections next year.

“This is a local association, a local advocation, that in the future within the reglementary period allowed, will be registered duly as a local party,” Rama said.

Rama said the party’s chairman emeritus is former congressman  Antonio Cuenco, the over-all campaign manager is former city councilor Jose Daluz, the assistant campaign manager is City Councilor Richard Osmeña and former city councilor Eduardo Rama will handle political affairs.

“It is now clear that the political battle lines are drawn and we will fight hard. We will work hard in order to achieve complete victory not just for us, but for the people of Cebu,” Cuenco said.

For the congressional candidates, Rama said that under his team are former mayor Alvin Garcia for the north district while incumbent City Councilor Gerardo Carillo will run for the south district.

For the councilors in the north district, Rama listed incumbent councilors Mary Ann de los Santos and Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao, and former Sambag 1 barangay captain Jerry Guardo.

For the councilors in the south district, Rama named incumbent James Cuenco, Nendell Hanz Abella, David Tumulak and Renato Osmeña.

“We have all agreed as a party decision (for the list of the candidates),” Rama said.

When asked why it was only a partial list, Rama said that the election is still next year and they are still scouting for other candidates to join their lineup. He said that the team will be announcing more candidates in due time.

Surprise

While other candidates are thankful for the public declaration of Rama, De los Santos said she was surprised.

“That’s new to me!” she said in a text message. She was out of town as of yesterday.  It was  earlier  reported  that Osmeña invited De los Santos  to  join  Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.

The relationship of Rama and De los Santos turned sour after Rama declared a “failure of bidding” in the construction of the Cebu City Medical Center last year. De los Santos was chairwoman of the CCMC ad hoc committee.

However, Rama said De los Santos was never out of his team.

“I’ve always been telling Mary Ann that you are always been part of Team Rama. That is why I’m putting Mary Ann as the number one….. I will never release her. She will always be a part of Team Rama. There may be hurts and misunderstanding, but I am a leader, I will apologize,” Rama said.

“As of now, I am maintaining my independence and am not affiliating with any party. I don’t know why I’ve been considered in the lineup when I was never informed or consulted about such move,” De los Santos said.

Meanwhile, Rama received last week his official appointment as regional coordinator of the UNA party.

“You are hereby appointed as Regional Coordinator for Region VII, Central Visayas effective this date (July 22),” read the order signed by UNA interim secretary general JV Bautista.

As a regional coordinator, Rama is authorized by the party to represent the team in political meetings and activities involving the party.

“That will bring me in a way to be responsible in handling political matters within the national party. That will officially bring me to that level. There is a forthcoming regional launching,” he said. — /BRP (FREEMAN)