CEBU City Acting Mayor Michael Rama and his official slate have formally declared their support for the presidential bid of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and the vice presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
In a press conference on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, Rama and members of his slate said that aside from Go and Carpio, they also support the senatorial bids of former Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Palace spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. and President Rodrigo Duterte.
Rama said they will announce their other bets for senator in the coming days.
Rama, who is running for city mayor in next year’s elections, said their decision to back Go and Carpio’s candidacies was due to their promise to Duterte to support whoever he will endorse to succeed him.
Even though Go and Carpio are running under different parties, Rama and his group are supporting the two not just for their track record in public service but also because of their friendship with the acting mayor and other officials of his slate.
“I support all those candidates because they are my friends. Friends do not leave their friends behind,” Rama said.
Rama also denied rumors that there is in-fighting among their members, particularly between him and Mayor Edgardo Labella.
“We emphasize that our local alliance has been strong and consistent from the beginning (so) that our union needed no substitution. Simply, we meant business is our collective desire to serve our beloved City of Cebu,” Rama said.
During the press conference, Rama also introduced members of his slate namely Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia as his running mate, City Councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid who will be running as congressional candidate for the city’s North District and City Councilor Eduardo “Edu” Rama as congressional candidate for the city’s South District.
Their city councilor slate for the city’s North District includes incumbent councilors Joel Garganera and Jerry Guardo; and new candidates Dr. Peter Mancao, Pastor “Jun” Alcover, Jaypee Labella, lawyer Melvin Legaspi, Maria Pino and Noel Wenceslao.
In the South District, their councilor slate includes incumbents Dondon Hontiveros, Phillip Zafra, Renato “Junjun” Osmeña and James Cuenco; and new candidates Barangay Quiot-Pardo chief Francis Espares, former councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, Barangay Cogon Pardo chief Harry Eran and lawyer Rey Gealon.
Lawyer and former Cebu City Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) chief Collin Rosell, who is running as third nominee for Marino Partylist, was also endorsed by Rama’s group.
Rama’s slate is composed of a coalition of three local parties: Rama’s Partido Barug, Garcia’s Partido Kusug and Partido Panaghiusa. (CAL, REV)