Political survival

When former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama disclosed during a press conference that Team Rama was switching from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to the PDP-Laban, he may have anticipated that he won’t be able to join the ride at least for now.

Word of that transfer from UNA which crumbled after former vice president Jejomar Binay lost his presidential bid to the PDP-Laban which is now the administration party led by President Rodrigo Duterte had been confirmed the past week and then some.

Joining the erstwhile Team Rama allies are former Liberal Party (LP) stalwarts Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing and Rep. Jonas Cortes of Cebu’s 6th district. And for now at least, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale are steadfast in their commitment with the LP.

To be sure, what Team Rama—would still they be called Team Rama or would they switch to Partidong Pinaghiusa (Team Unity?) after its founder got dropped off from the list of prospective applicants due to allegations of his being a drug lord protector—did may reaffirm the transitory and fickle nature of political ties in this country where the switching of parties had gone beyond being “balimbang” or turncoatism to one of political survival and prosperity.

So who orchestrated the transfer to PDP-Laban? Rama may have input on this but there are talks that the transfer was made possible through the close ties between Councilor Jose Daluz and the Pimentels since the councilor’s mother and former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr. had fought against the Marcos dictatorship.

Also figuring prominently in the mix is presidential assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, who probably wanted to build a power bloc that could facilitate legislation or programs that he deems to be beneficial for Metro Cebu.

After being sworn in last Saturday, the Partidong Pinaghiusa can count themselves fortunate in perhaps being able to ask Dino for resources and aid in building their political base starting with this year’s barangay elections in October.

Thus it was no surprise that the recent cash aid distribution for seniors and persons with disabilities (PWDs) were done either at the homes of those allied with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) or at venues where these BO-PK allies would be on hand, working the crowd.

Sensing that they would be swamped unless they secure a powerful sponsor, Rama’s allies chose the most viable option and that is to join PDP-Laban minus the former mayor who still has to clear his name if ever he can hope to join the alliance and still be able to seek elective office.

This development makes for engrossing coffee shop talk among Cebu City’s politics-minded residents but how this would affect bottomline the city’s residents in terms of services and programs is another story worth pursuing.