CEBU, Philippines - The overall campaign manager of Team Rama revealed that the party offered the congressional seat to Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos for 2016 in the hope of stopping her from jumping ship to Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.
Rebuffing the statement of former Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the head of BOPK, Jose Daluz III said the party never asked De los Santos to run for vice mayor next year since Team Rama will be fielding Mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.
“To my knowledge, wala gi-offer ever since ang vice mayor slot. Gi-offer ang congressional seat in the North because she could be the obvious choice in the north district after landing number two sa last election. But, in fairness to her (de los Santos), she wants to undergo the process and did not insist to be the vice mayor bet,” Daluz said.
Last week, De los Santos announced she accepted the invitation of BOPK to join the group. In the same gathering, Osmeña disclosed that Team Rama offered De los Santos to run for vice mayor so she will stay with the party.
Daluz also denied that the city’s executive department is “buying” barangay officials following the statement of Osmeña that “Mary Ann (de los Santos) is not for sale. Barangay Lahug is not for sale.”
“I do not know nganong gi-coin na ang not for sale with the transfer of Mary Ann. Also, to make things clear, it is not the entire Barangay Lahug Council that joined the other group, there are two councilmen that are with Team Rama,” Daluz said.
He admitted, nevertheless, that the transfer of De los Santos has affected Team Rama’s plans for 2016.
“Admittedly, if de los Santos where with us, dili lisod ang victory sa Lahug. For sure, we will be working hard so that Team Rama should continue to run City Hall in the coming year. Lisod sad nila pag-convince the entire Lahug because of the history,” Daluz said.
For City Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella, the transfer of de los Santos will not affect the City Council since Team Rama remains the minority.
“Anugon sad as a good friend. But, wala man sad naguba ang Team Rama and walay effect sa City Council ang iyang pag-transfer. I hope lang nga bisan og majority gihapon ang other group, the Councilors will not consider partisanship in terms of good projects,” Abella said. — (FREEMAN)