Media practitioners, accountant join BO-PK

A FAMOUS radio personality, a certified public accountant and a media practitioner-turned-barangay-councilman rounded out the lineup of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) for next year’s elections.

BO-PK founder Tomas Osmeña, who is running for Cebu City mayor next year, officially endorsed Tejero barangay councilman and print reporter Garry Lao as part of the party’s lineup of councilors in the north district.

Radio icon Allan “Goliat” Nacorda and accountant Danilo Pacana will complete the group’s slate for the south district.
Osmeña said they decided to get Goliat for his ability to connect to the masses.

“Popularity is not our top priority. We chose Goliat not because of his popularity but because we need someone who can connect with the masa (masses). That’s more our reason for selecting him,” Osmeña said in an interview.

Instrumental

Goliat is a radio host in DYHP. Osmeña said Pacana will help his wife Margot Osmeña, who is seeking reelection as south district councilor, in managing the city’s finances. He said the Pacana clan is a big family in the south.

In 2011, Pacana filed a multi-billion tax evasion case against tycoon Lucio Tan before the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

“Many people don’t know Danny. He was instrumental in the billion-peso tax evasion case against Lucio Tan. I love people like that. Courageous, talented, who can do something like that,” Osmeña said.

While Team Rama announced its lineup weeks ago, it was only recently that BO-PK announced theirs.

Osmeña said they were still finalizing their last spots in the slate.

Bets

He admitted to reserving a slot for incumbent councilor Dave Tumulak for the south district, hoping that he’ll bolt Team Rama.

Osmeña said he’s been talking with Tumulak about his complaints on some activities in City Hall.

“We thought he will be part of the solution. Now, he continues to be part of the problem,” he said.

Tumulak is running under Team Rama. Osmeña’s running mate for vice mayor is incumbent City Councilor Nestor Archival Sr.

BO-PK’s bets for the north and south district representatives are incumbents Raul Del Mar and Rodrigo Abellanosa, respectively.

Re-election

The party is set to announce and proclaim its complete lineup today at the San Pedro Calungsod church in the South Road Properties after a 9 a.m. Mass.

Other councilors running for the north district are incumbents Sisinio Andales, Nida Cabrera, Alvin Dizon, Alvin Arcilla and Mary Ann De Los Santos.

Banilad barangay councilwoman Malou Tabar will also be running as councilor together with former Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young.

In the south district, incumbents Margot Osmeña and Eugenio Gabuya Jr. will seek re-election.

Other councilors include former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Bonel Balingit, who, Osmeña said will focus on campaigning for the youth to join sports programs in the city.

Mainstream

Mambaling barangay councilwoman Ann Palomo-Vestil will also run as city councilor.

Osmeña said she’ll focus on barangay activities and barangay issues like boundaries among others.

They will be joined by incumbent Labangon barangay chairman Vic Buendia and Randy Navarro, who headed the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

“I’m very pleased with this team. It’s about time that we recognize different sectors and guide them to the mainstream,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said they still have no schedule as to when they will file their Certificates of Candidacy (COC).

Fanfare

He said in an earlier interview though that there will be no fanfare when the group will file their COCs which starts today.

On the other hand, Team Rama will decide on the date when they’ll file their COCs.

Team Rama campaign manager Jose Daluz III said the group will still have to meet and discuss their plans.

Mayor Michael Rama earlier refused to say if the group will be accompanied by supporters or if there will be fanfare during their filing of COCs, saying “it depends on our mood.”