WHAT was supposed to be a debate between Cebu City’s mayoralty candidates turned out to be an opportunity for former Mayor Tomas Osmeña to promote his plans and air his criticisms against his rival, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.
Rama stood pat on his earlier pronouncement that he will not participate in any debate, as he snubbed an invitation for a live debate hosted by Bombo Radyo Philippines yesterday morning.
Bombo Radyo Assistant Station Manager Marchoflix Lucabon said Rama already informed him last Tuesday that he would not attend the debate.
His reason was that their party has agreed not to show up in any debate no matter who is organizing it.
The program was scheduled at 8:30 a.m. yesterday and lasted for an hour.
In his opening statement, Osmeña chided Rama for not showing up and said it could have been an opportunity for Rama to clear his name on several issues involving his administration.
“Dili siya ganahan nga makita sa mga tawo ang tinuod nga sitwasyon. Importante man nga makahibalo ang mga tawo. Tingali nahadlok na gyud na siya,” he said. (He doesn’t want the people to see the real situation. It’s important that the people know. Maybe he’s really afraid.)
The former mayor talked about some of his plans should he get elected mayor, including making a second South Road Properties (SRP) by extending the current reclamation area by around one kilometer more.
He took time to promote Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas and his running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo as the next president and vice president.
“When it comes to peace and order, close kaayo mi ni Rody (Duterte), but Mar has done so many things for Cebu,” he said.
But for Rama, he said people should judge him based on his track record and the projects he has done.