No other meaning, Daluz, Rama say: Meeting just to reminisce good days

CEBU, Philippines — They met only “for old times’ sake.”

This was how suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama described his meeting with Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) Board of Directors (BOD) Chairman Jose “Joey” Daluz III, with whom he tangled with several times.

The encounter happened last Sunday during a gathering he called. A photo of that event that circulated showed Rama in the company of Daluz, City Councilor Franklyn Ong, and acting Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros.

The photo garnered interest because Rama had long quarreled with Daluz, whom he wanted replaced as MCWD BOD chairman. In fact, Rama created his own BOD with Retired General Melquiades Feliciano as Daluz’s replacement.

Rama said the invitation was a reflection of his “religious faith” and his mantra that “politics will pass, friendship will last.”

“Mag-abot ming tanan. Dili mi ma- istorya og politika. Nag-istorya mi’g, kumusta na man mo uy,” Rama said.

He said he considered those who were in attendance as his companions, including those who are allied with the opposition political party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), adding that he was, after all, a BOPK member.

“Then pagkahuman na-involved nang metamorphosis,” Rama said of the meeting.

He said he decided to have the gathering after the thought came to him one evening.

For his part, Daluz told the Freeman that he acceded to the invitation “for old time's sake.”

He said they set aside their disagreement and did not have in his mind that he would join to come up with whatever agreement or concession about their legal dispute.

“He already addressed me as chairman so maybe he already accepted the fact nga I was really the (MCWD BOD) chairman,” Daluz said.

He said that he wants that before he and Rama would officially fight in the political arena, it will already be a “friendly match.”

Daluz had already announced his intent to run for Cebu City mayor in the 2025 elections and challenge Rama for the position.

He said he and Rama did not really become estranged, they just had disagreements about the management of MCWD.

“Nindot man sad among panagkita kay it was an understanding nga mag-abot gyud mis political arena,” he said, adding that they also agreed to just leave it to the people whom they like to be the next mayor.

He said, though, that his candidacy for mayor is not yet final because is still in the process of consulting the people.

Daluz’s quarrel with Rama has been highly publicized.

It escalated when Rama ordered that Daluz and two others be removed from the MCWD BOD last Aug. 17, 2023.

Rama then named Feliciano as the new MCWD BOD chairman and Atty. Aristotle “Totol” Batuhan, and Nelson Y. Yuvallos as new members.

Daluz and the others, however, refused to step down, contending that Rama’s order was unlawful. This resulted in MCWD having two sets of BODs.

The disagreements then grew further after MCWD filed criminal and administrative complaints against Rama and other City Hall executives before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas over an alleged break in of MCWD offices.

Asked if he would already desist from pursuing the case, Daluz instead said it was filed not as a personal matter but as a way to protect MCWD as a whole. — (FREEMAN)