65T gather for LP-BOPK rally

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City South District Congressman Tomas Osmeña walked from his home in Guadalupe to the Provincial Capitol Grounds to see if opponent Mayor Michael Rama was indeed manning traffic as what reports earlier said.

“Gikan sa Guadalupe, naglakaw gyud ko. Nangita ko ni Mike Rama. He was counting. He’s still counting. He will never stop counting until mahuman

ang elections,” Osmeña addressed the crowd in his speech at the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan-Liberal Party (BOPK-LP) proclamation rally yesterday afternoon.

It was earlier reported that Rama offered help in traffic management while his opposing party holds their activity.

City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) chief Atty. Raffy Yap said he received a call from the mayor asking if his help is needed.

“He called me earlier to ask if we need him. I said we can handle it. The situation is under our control,” Yap told reporters.

About 30 CITOM personnel were deployed at the roads leading to the venue, he earlier said.

Noted by CITOM as major traffic concerns were Carreta cemetery all the way to the Cebu City Medical Center area, General Maxilom Avenue, Ramos Street, Gorordo Avenue, and the area from Imus going to E-Mall.

Around 65,000 gathered at the Capitol grounds to attend yesterday’s rally.

Apart from nine LP senatorial bets, namely Jamby Madrigal, Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Sonny Angara, Grace Poe, Jun Magsaysay, Risa Hontiveros, Koko Pimentel, and Bam Aquino, provincial candidates were also given time to speak in front of Cebuanos.

Gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Junjun” Davide said the victory  of BOPK is undeniable.

“Dili na gyud ikalalis nga ang musunod nga mayor mao si Tomas Osmeña, magpabiling Vice Mayor Joy Young, mubalik nga north district congressman Raul del mar, bag-ong south district congressman Bebot Abellanosa,” Davide stressed.

His runningmate, LP vice gubernatorial candidate Agnes Magpale said the party’s senatorial bets were meticulously chosen by the party and so were LP –BOPK candidates of Cebu City.

The senatorial bet talked about their platforms of government that include fighting graft and corruption, universal health care, education, entrepreneurship and micro-enterprise.

Cynthia Villar, Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes did not make it.

President Benigno Aquino III urged the Cebuanos to vote for all the Team Pnoy senatorial candidates as well as the local candidates of Liberal Party.

Hundreds of supporters of BOPK and LP started to gather at the Capitol grounds at 4 p.m.

Traffic from Lahug were diverted to Gorordo Ave. then to Gen. Maxilom Ave. down to Fuente Osmeña as Escario St. was closed as early as 1 p.m. yesterday.

Private vehicles are allowed to enter Escario St. but have to make a left turn at Juana Osmeña St.

Guadalupe-bound vehicles from the downtown area were diverted to B. Rodriguez St. upon reaching Fuente Osmeña.

Several members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and personnel from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and other police and military intelligence units were detailed to secure the Capitol and nearby areas.

There were also bomb-sniffing dogs at the rally site. — Jessa Chrisna Marie J. Agua, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Rene U. Borromeo/MBG (FREEMAN)