Rama wants Ong to remain ABC president

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama yesterday expressed support for Franklyn Ong to remain as Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president and City Council ex-officio member.

Ong, who belongs to opposition party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, ran but lost to Rama ally and runningmate, current vice mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, in the 2022 elections.

In the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023 last Monday, Ong ran unopposed as Kasambagan barangay captain. He is expected to seek re-election as ABC president, a position that Rama's barangay captain "allies" are also eyeing.

Rama, through the city’s Sugboanon Channel aired over Facebook Live yesterday, said he had committed to support Ong even before the BSKE 2023.

“If I will have my own way..., if the barangay captains will respect the mayor...and my own group, Partido Barug, how I wish it should be,” he said.

Rama said he also already discussed with Congressman Edu Rama (Cebu City, south district) a certain setup at the ABC to foster unity between the north and the south districts of the city.

He said that to be "fair," the ABC vice president should come from the south district since Kasambagan is in the north district.

The mayor, though, did not mention any specific name of a south district barangay captain for the ABC vice president post.

Rama said he saw no reason why Ong should be replaced.

“Unsa may problema ni Franklyn Ong? ABC na daan…, very instrumental in the Covid-19 (fight), and (Covid-19) vaccination, and (super typhoon) Odette (response)..Wa gyud na siya mawa sa pirmi natong pangayo'g tabang,” he said.

Rama said that even though Ong ran under BOPK's banner in the 2022 elections, Ong remains supportive of and visible in most of his programs.

“As I said, level up na ta, dili na ta'g sobra ka pulitika…. SSS COP--Servanthood, Stewardship, Shepherding and COP-Costudianship, Overseership, Partnership, he said.

"Ato ng mga mantra nga we are bringing it to all barangay officials, nga ila nang puy-an and mo-do away sila sa traditional politics…We serve people without distinction,” he added.

The mayor said doing this is for the benefit of the Cebuano people.

“At the end of the day, kinsa may ma-benefitted? Ang kinabag-ang katawhan,” Rama said. (CEBU NEWS)