IBP to hold more debates in future polls amid Labella-Osmeña face-off success

(From left to right) Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, IBP Cebu City Chapter President Atty. Regal Oliva, Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos, and Mayor Tomas Osmeña. | Gerard Vincent Francisco

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Integrated of Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City Chapter said that with the success of the mayoral debates on Friday, May 10, they hope to conduct more debates in the future elections.

Lawyer Regal Oliva, IBP Cebu City Chapter president, said that she was elated with the successful turnout of the mayoral debates and no untoward incident happened.

“We were picturing the worst case scenarios because we know that the supporters of both camps are really hot, and they are very heated. We are happy that they were very disciplined. We are happy that they were orderly inside the venue,” she said.

Oliva also praised Mayor Tomas Osmeña of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) and Vice Mayor Edgar Labella of Partido Barug-PDP Laban who both were a good sport in answering the questions.

Read more: Osmeña, Labella face off in IBP Cebu City debate

She said the debate had been educational, and, maybe, a turning point to many people either to  affirm or change their decisions as to who would win as mayor of Cebu City after the elections.

“Both of them gave a really good performance and gave their best,” she said.

Oliva said one of the challenges they had to face for organizing a debate as huge as the mayoral debates was the finances because the chapter, made of Cebu City lawyers, did not have much funds.

Yet they were able to find means to fund the debate.

She also said that there was the challenge of convincing the candidates to join the debate especially since former Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama, who is running as vice mayor of Barug, refused to attend the debate.

Read more: Rama still not joining Cebu City candidates debate

Then there was also the moving of the dates from it’s original date on April 22 to May 6, then later to May 10, upon the request of Labella who had to meet the President in Manila on May 6.

Read more: Labella sought postponement of IBP debate to see Duterte at Malacañang Palace

Oliva said that they hoped that the debate had served its purpose to the people and people would have been enlightened by the views of the candidates for mayor of the city.

She said she was also hoping that in the next elections, IBP Cebu City would still organize more debates.

At the end of the day, Oliva said the people would have to decide who would be the next mayor of Cebu City.

“The real winner will be decided by you,” she said./dbs