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It's double whammy for Rama after one of his allies, Mabini Brgy Captain Rey Oybenes figured in a sensational murder and suicide involving another Rama supporter detailed at the city's Division for the Urban Poor (DWUP). It doesn't help that Rama is unreachable for comment for several days as he went on a long vacation.
Rama won the election but has little time to celebrate as controversies are flying this early on his second term. Somebody's out to throw the kitchen sink at him. And it's no secret where it's coming from. There's no let up between now and 2016 as the administration and opposition parties prepare this early for the presidential elections.
A Catholic Church swing vote?
Had Osmena run against Rama after his second term, he will probably win considering by then, the honeymoon with the new mayor which, he himself endorsed in 2010, would have started to wane. Right after winning his first term, Rama was on a campaign trail, cementing roads all over the city, beautifying parks, sidewalks, public buildings, etc. and increasing grants for senior citizens. While Osmena had to battle dificit due to SRP loan payments during his three terms, Rama had surplus money from SRP joint venture revenue, Pagcor funds, SM SRP payments which Osmena himself brokered when he was mayor.
But it could also be true something unexpected happened in this election. Dr. Rene Joseph Bullecer announced over radio station Bombo Radyo his group of Catholics have provided for Mayor Michael Rama the swing votes needed to win Cebu City's mayoralty race.His group of Catholics endorsed Rama and campaigned against Osmena.
Prior to the elections, survey conducted by students of the University of San Carlos found Osmena leading the mayoralty race over Rama in a tight race. Election results, however, show the opposite. Could this be due to what Bullecer said - a Catholic Church swing vote?
Will Tommy do a Serging?
Serging, Tommy's father lorded it over Cebu politics long after he left capitol to be mayor of Cebu City. Serging ended the Cuenco's dominance of Cebu politics after he defeated Manuel Cuenco for Cebu Governor in the elections of 1951. Serging garnered 99,937 votes as against Cuenco's 79,924 votes.
After one term, he left the Capitol but retained clout over the entire island while serving as Cebu City mayor. Will Tommy, his son, be able to extend political clout throughout the entire province while keeping his hold on Cebu City politics? Granting he wins again as mayor in 2013 and his candidates in the province win, he will be the island's most powerful politician like his father before him. Right now, he is helping plot LP's strategy in the province after making Jonas Cortes win in Mandaue in 2007. Only One Cebu of the Garcias and Mike Rama stand on his way. It remains to be seen who will win big or lose really big in the next elections.
LP turns around, supports Tomas in 2013
LP slammed the door on Mike Rama and supported his nemesis, Tomas Osmena. Rama rallied former Kusug stalwarts except for bitter foe Raymond Garcia who would have gone over to Tomas' camp but was probably prevailed upon by elders in the Garcia family.
Roxas turns back on Tomas; supports Rama in 2013
Now it can be told the reason behind Tomas and Mar's heated exchange during the latter's last visit to Cebu. Mayor Michael Rama is going to be Liberal Party's standard bearer in Cebu City.
This is an unprecedented development after Rama bolted BOPK. He proclaimed upon leaving the party that he ran under LP and not BOPK during the last elections. On the contrary, many Cebuanos perceived him as BOPK's standard bearer and won with the party's support.
Instead of going to the Cojuangco group of the LP which supported Vice President Binay, Rama sought the support of Roxas instead. That probably won over Roxas to Rama's side. Roxas has been known to be a staunch ally of Osmena and the recent turnaround is nothing less than unprecedented.
Tomas admitted he has not been attending LP meetings due to Rama's presence during these meetings. That probably sealed his fate with LP.
The last time similar betrayal happened to an Osmena was in 1934 when Quezon threw his support behind Senator Vicente Rama, Mike's grandfather in his bid for Cebu City's cityhood. Sergio Osmena Sr. who was political kingpin of Cebu province opposed chaterhood for the city as it would allow for the city's independence from the province. Osmena intended Cebu City to be akin to Washington DC as capital of the province. Hence the design of Fuente Osmena and the Provincial Capitol. Quezon who was then at odds with Osmena sided with Rama to cement his support in the city (which at that time, was never an Osmena bailiwick) and spite Osmena. The two later reconciled to run as standard bearers in the Commonwealth elections which they won. Don Sergio, however, kept his grudge with Senator Rama.
Split in Cebu City's LP
By J.D. VELEZ | Blogger
(Rama bolts BOPK - local papers banner today in their headlines. The mayor said he doesn't have to affiliate with a local party as he is with the Liberal Pary)
When Pnoy first came to Cebu to campaign for the 2010 elections, the BOPK and the Rama clan were in full force at the Sacred Heart Center where the welcome gathering was held. However, two personalities were ominously not there. One is Tomas Osmena and the other is Noynoy pointman and former Kusug stalwart Totol Batuhan. Both had issues about that event. Little did we know their absence was a telltale sign of things that were to unravel a year later.
(Click to visit link)
POLITICS | Margot Osmena for Cebu 2013 Facebook page launched
This early, there is a Margot-Osmena for Cebu 2013 (Click link above). After being considered to chair the City Council's powerful budget and finance committee, Tom's wife is now being eyed as probable candidate in 2013. What position will that be? Nothing is definite yet. The Facebook page just says Margot Osmena for 2013. If it's the mayorship, then it will be a Margot vs. Mike come 2013.
Sometime in February this year, J.D. Velez interviewed Congressman Tomas Osmena for a book project. Here are a few excerpts from that interview.
J.D. VELEZ: What would be the defining achievement of your administration? You served five terms as Mayor of the City.(click to visit link)
But it could also be true something unexpected happened in this election. Dr. Rene Joseph Bullecer announced over radio station Bombo Radyo his group of Catholics have provided for Mayor Michael Rama the swing votes needed to win Cebu City's mayoralty race.His group of Catholics endorsed Rama and campaigned against Osmena.
Prior to the elections, survey conducted by students of the University of San Carlos found Osmena leading the mayoralty race over Rama in a tight race. Election results, however, show the opposite. Could this be due to what Bullecer said - a Catholic Church swing vote?
Will Tommy do a Serging?
After one term, he left the Capitol but retained clout over the entire island while serving as Cebu City mayor. Will Tommy, his son, be able to extend political clout throughout the entire province while keeping his hold on Cebu City politics? Granting he wins again as mayor in 2013 and his candidates in the province win, he will be the island's most powerful politician like his father before him. Right now, he is helping plot LP's strategy in the province after making Jonas Cortes win in Mandaue in 2007. Only One Cebu of the Garcias and Mike Rama stand on his way. It remains to be seen who will win big or lose really big in the next elections.
LP turns around, supports Tomas in 2013
LP slammed the door on Mike Rama and supported his nemesis, Tomas Osmena. Rama rallied former Kusug stalwarts except for bitter foe Raymond Garcia who would have gone over to Tomas' camp but was probably prevailed upon by elders in the Garcia family.
Roxas turns back on Tomas; supports Rama in 2013
Now it can be told the reason behind Tomas and Mar's heated exchange during the latter's last visit to Cebu. Mayor Michael Rama is going to be Liberal Party's standard bearer in Cebu City.
This is an unprecedented development after Rama bolted BOPK. He proclaimed upon leaving the party that he ran under LP and not BOPK during the last elections. On the contrary, many Cebuanos perceived him as BOPK's standard bearer and won with the party's support.
Instead of going to the Cojuangco group of the LP which supported Vice President Binay, Rama sought the support of Roxas instead. That probably won over Roxas to Rama's side. Roxas has been known to be a staunch ally of Osmena and the recent turnaround is nothing less than unprecedented.
Tomas admitted he has not been attending LP meetings due to Rama's presence during these meetings. That probably sealed his fate with LP.
The last time similar betrayal happened to an Osmena was in 1934 when Quezon threw his support behind Senator Vicente Rama, Mike's grandfather in his bid for Cebu City's cityhood. Sergio Osmena Sr. who was political kingpin of Cebu province opposed chaterhood for the city as it would allow for the city's independence from the province. Osmena intended Cebu City to be akin to Washington DC as capital of the province. Hence the design of Fuente Osmena and the Provincial Capitol. Quezon who was then at odds with Osmena sided with Rama to cement his support in the city (which at that time, was never an Osmena bailiwick) and spite Osmena. The two later reconciled to run as standard bearers in the Commonwealth elections which they won. Don Sergio, however, kept his grudge with Senator Rama.
Split in Cebu City's LP
By J.D. VELEZ | Blogger
(Rama bolts BOPK - local papers banner today in their headlines. The mayor said he doesn't have to affiliate with a local party as he is with the Liberal Pary)
When Pnoy first came to Cebu to campaign for the 2010 elections, the BOPK and the Rama clan were in full force at the Sacred Heart Center where the welcome gathering was held. However, two personalities were ominously not there. One is Tomas Osmena and the other is Noynoy pointman and former Kusug stalwart Totol Batuhan. Both had issues about that event. Little did we know their absence was a telltale sign of things that were to unravel a year later.
(Click to visit link)
POLITICS | Margot Osmena for Cebu 2013 Facebook page launched
This early, there is a Margot-Osmena for Cebu 2013 (Click link above). After being considered to chair the City Council's powerful budget and finance committee, Tom's wife is now being eyed as probable candidate in 2013. What position will that be? Nothing is definite yet. The Facebook page just says Margot Osmena for 2013. If it's the mayorship, then it will be a Margot vs. Mike come 2013.
DOSSIER | Interview with Rep. Tomas Osmena
J.D. VELEZ: What would be the defining achievement of your administration? You served five terms as Mayor of the City.(click to visit link)
