CEBU, Philippines — Despite political coalitions and alliances already being made by their prospective political opponents for the mayoral seat of Cebu City, City Councilor Nestor Archival and former customs commissioner Yogi Felimon Ruiz remain unperturbed, saying they remain confident of their political visions.
While the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) has officially began and Mayor Michael Rama’s Partido BARUG-Team Rama already formed a partnership with Bag-ong Sugbo and Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia’s Kugi, Uswag Sugbo(KUSUG) forming an alliance with Panaghiusa, both men are yet to unveil their complete political slate.
In an interview yesterday, Archival said they are eyeing to file their COCs on Oct. 7 or 8 yet.
He assured that they are "ready enough” for the elections and that Bando Osmen?a Pundok Kauswagan BOPK) has a “complete slate” that he could not disclose yet.
With the various changes in political alliances, particularly with the parting of ways of Rama, who is serving a preventive suspension, and Garcia, Archival said they have repercussion on the “changing political dynamics” in the city.
Both Garcia and Rama have announced their intent to run for mayor.
"But in our case, wala man mi nag-usab," Archival said.
Archival, who is teaming up with former mayor Tomas Osmeña as his vice mayor, said that "consistency" in their alliance will be their edge because it equates to the buildup of trust.
"Kay kung makita nimo ang usa ka party mag-usab-usab, then ang policy in the future might be mag-usab-usab pud, the cohesiveness," Archival said.
He said their party has been intact since its inception and that they didn't get candidates from other parties.
On BOPK members that are now allied with other political parties, specifically Liga ng mga Barangay President Franklyn Ong and incumbent north district Representative Rachel "Cutie" del Mar, Archival said that was due to the uncertain direction of BOPK in the beginning.
"If you are going to look at it, ang BOPK mura’g wala dayon, kay gitan-aw pa ang situation, but eventually, when we started it all, naka-commit na sila sa some other parties," he said.
He said that when BOPK began publicizing its intent to join the political battle once again, Ong was already in talks with Rama, hence his (Ong) alliance with BARUG.
Archival also said that while they are currently beefing up support in the barangay level, they are working on the premise that they would not get the support of the barangay captains because most of them are not allied with BOPK.
He made it clear, though, that BOK is not eyeing any political coalitions because it could stand on its own.
Ruiz, meanwhile, said he and his groupmates are filing their COCs on Oct. 7 also. As for his runningmate whom he has not revealed yet, he said they would formally announce it during their official proclamation event on Oct. 5, when he would announce his complete slate.
Ruiz said his City Council candidates are individuals with "impeccable character” who share his value system.
"If ga una-una og declare ning ubang grupo that is their choice, but kining atoa, bisan tuod nauwahi ta, we underwent a thorough selection process para ato gyud ni silang mahashasan nga kining mga tawhana ang karapat-dapat sa ilang position," he said.
Ruiz said they will have the Oct. 5 announcement outside the structure of the Compania Maritima building near the Cebu City Hall.—RHM (CEBU NEWS)