Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama introduced his lineup for the city’s south district in yesterday morning’s press conference at the Rama compound in barangay Basak San Nicolas.
Former city councilors Jocelyn “Joy” Pesquera, Jose Daluz III and Edu Rama are in the lineup along with Inayawan barangay chair Lutherlee “Lotlot” Ignacio-Soon, who ran but lost in 2013.
Incumbent City Councilors Dave Tumulak, Nendell Hanz Abella and James Anthony Cuenco will also run along with Renato Osmeña Jr., son of the late Cebu City vice mayor Renato Osmeña Sr.
“Today is the time to put officially the team for the south district,” Rama said.
He also announced the candidacy of City Councilor Gerardo “Gerry” Carillo for the city’s south congressional district seat.
Incumbent
Rama said they will announce their full list of candidates for the north district “in a few days” since they are still waiting for former mayor Alvin Garcia to arrive in Cebu.
Garcia was earlier announced by Rama as their candidate for the city’s north congressional district.
Other names for the north district council lineup include incumbent Councilor Noel Wenceslao and former Sambag I barangay chairman Jerry Guardo.
During yesterday’s press conference, Rama also announced that the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the national party that Team Rama is affiliated with, will hold a regional launching on October 9 at the Cebu Coliseum.
Before the launching, the mayor said Team Rama will present their complete lineup.
Final cut
Team Rama’s chairman emeritus is former south district Rep. Antonio “Tony” Cuenco.
Former Cebu City councilor Procopio “Coping” Fernandez is their party’s vice chairman.
The mayor declined to elaborate on how they finalized the lineup for the south district, saying it was a trade secret.
There were speculations that Team Rama had to conduct an election to determine who will make it to the final cut since there were a lot of probable candidates for both districts.
Former mayor and congressman Tomas Osmeña said his Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) still has to complete its lineup.
Osmeña earlier said he will run for mayor next year with Councilor Nestor Archival Sr. as his running mate.
BO-PK is also reportedly considering former Philippine Basketball Association player Bonel Balingit, barangay Mambaling councilwoman Ann Palomo-Vestil, Labangon barangay chairman Victor Buendia and former City Hall employee Randy Navarro for the south district.
For the north district, BO-PK is considering barangay Banilad councilwoman Malou Tabar, former vice mayor Joy Augustus Young and incumbent Councilor Mary Ann de Los Santos who earlier defected to BO-PK from Team Rama.
Team Rama’s Carillo and Garcia will go up against incumbent representatives Rodrigo Abellanosa and Raul del Mar for the south and north districts, respectively.
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