TODAY’s inaugural session of the Cebu City Council may give a sense of how political lines will be redrawn.
Eyes will be on Cebu City Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos and whose team she chooses to serve.
The Team Rama councilor showed up in a sortie of the Bando Osmena – Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) in barangay Lahug last week for a dialog with a homeowners association.
She has not confirmed any plan to change parties but a formal announcement about her private talks with the Osmeña couple who invited her to join the BO-PK is being awaited.
“She came and she spoke to the (Lahug homeowners). It’s just a matter of time,” Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña told Cebu Daily News.
CDN tried to reach delos Santos yesterday but she did not respond to text messages sent to her phone.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo said colleagues still consider delos Santos a part of Team Rama.
“She is still with the group according to her. We trust her based on that,” he said.
Carillo said he and Team Rama allies Dave Tumulak, Noel Wenceslao, Richard Osmeña, Nendel Abella and James Cuenco have agreed that delos Santos should remain the minority floor leader in the council.
The City Council is still dominated by the mayor’s critics in the BO-PK.
Team Rama councilors will meet again today ahead of the 10 a.m. inaugural session, to finalize their selection of delos Santos as their minority leader.
OPTIMISTIC
In a separate interview, Margot Osmeña said she was optimistic that delos Santos would eventually join the BO-PK.
She said delos Santos was very responsive when she and husband Tomas Osmeña, former mayor and south district representative, visited her at her residence on June 19.
The Osmeña couple and delos Santos had dinner and a post-dinner discussion that lasted about four hours. Osmeña said she helped arrange the meeting since delos Santos is “comfortable” with her.
During their talk, delos Santos reportedly asked if other BOPK members were prepared to welcome her into their group.
Osmeña said she assured delos Santos that BO-PK members were consulted beforehand.
“Whatever we do, we don’t do that on our own. We always consult with the group,” Osmeña told CDN.
She said the BO-PK members want delos Santos to join them because of her stand against corruption and her track record in government.
When Delos Santos asked what position the Osmeña couple had in mind for her, Margot threw back the question . Santos reportedly responded: “I am very happy with where I am now.”
Osmeña said delos Santos’ reply should put an end to speculation about a possible “M and M” tandem in next year’s election — Margot for mayor, and Mary Ann for vice mayor in 2016.
“M and M is very cute. It’s catchy but I don’t know how it will come to be,” Osmeña said.
During their conversation, delos Santos addressed Tomas as “Mayor Tom”. It was the first time she sat across the former mayor.
Delos Santos ran against Tomas in the 2007 mayoral elections.
Another Team Rama ally, a barangay official from the south district, is likely to switch allegiance to BO-PK, a City Hall source said. Talks are still ongoing.
Osmeña said BOPK will announce its line-up for the 2016 elections at the proper time.
“For now, we still have work to do at the city council,” she said.
For the inaugural session today, Osmeña said she would remain majority floor leader and chair the council’s budget committee. She will also resume the chairmainship of the tourism committee.
Team Rama councilor James Cuenco has signified that he no longer wants to head the committee.
Delos Santos will continue to head the council’s health committee.
Osmeña said it will be up to Team Rama to decide if they would keep delos Santos as their minority floor leader or name her replacement.