Cebu City mayor Michael Rama (right) and councilor Geraldo Carillo. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yeseterday confirmed that “independent” Councilor Gerardo Carillo will be his candidate for congress in the south district in 2016.
He said Carillo and two other councilors who left the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) bloc in August to form an independent bloc are now part of Team Rama.
Carillo will be challenging incumbent Rep. and BO-PK ally Rodrigo Abellanosa for the seat.
Rama said he wanted Councilor Richard Osmeña to join the City Sports Commission as his representative.
Councilor Noel Wenceslao, a former banker, will be made part of the executive department’s budget advisory team.
Rama said he was puzzled to see BO-PK Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias voting against the committee reorganization proposed by Team Rama during the City Council’s October 8 session.
He said Cabarrubias had been attending their group meetings and even signified his support for the planned reorganization.
Prepared
“But I’m not going to condemn Bob because we’re Christians. But I talked to each one of them before leaving for Europe. I told them that I wanted to know where each of them stood,” Rama said.
Cabarrubias said in an earlier interview that his loyalty remains with BO-PK even after he attended some Team Rama meetings and was about to o support the Rama administration’s programs.
Carillo said he was honored that Mayor Rama was considering him for the south district.
Independent
“He (Rama) already told me (before he left for Europe) but I will work first. I will work harder for the city.
It will all be up to the people to decide if I am deserving or not,” he said.
Carillo denied that the offer of the congressional slot was the reason he left BO-PK.
He said Rama’s offer came after he decided to break off from his party and be an independent.
Carillo said he, Wenceslao and Richard Osmena entered into a “coalition” with Team Rama to support the administration’s bloc call for a reorganization of committee chairmanship at the city council.
“Our coalition will continue for as long as there is unity of ideas and commonality of purpose,” he added.
Rama criticized BO-PK councilors for stripping Carillo, Wenceslao and Richard Osmena of their committee chairmanships during Wednesday’s showdown.
“I have been telling them (Team Rama councilors) to share. I never told them to deprive the others. I didn’t peek (at the listing) because the last instruction I was giving was for the vice mayor to handle it,” Rama told reporters.
Related Stories:
Archival: Impose terminal fee increase by installment
BO-PK councilors thwart City Council panel revamp
BO-PK wards off takeover bid in City Council; ousts 3