Osmeña: Rama-Labella rivalry is mere ‘shadow boxing.’

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña believed there is something more to the separate public declarations of former mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella of their intention to run for the mayoral post in next year’s elections.

“It’s very clear (that it’s just a strategy for the opposition). ‘There should only be one but it should be me’.’ The other also says: there could only be one, and it should be me. To me, this is just boring drama,” Osmeña told reporters.

Last Saturday, Labella announced that he will be challenging Osmeña in the May 2019 elections. It came a month after Rama also made public his intentions to run for mayor anew.

These developments came days after reports surfaced that some officials in the opposition bloc will back Labella’s mayoralty bid.

But both Rama, Labella, and other members of Barug Team Rama such as Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Joel Garganera denied these reports, and assured that Barug will stay united.

“Just watch their body language. If they (Labella and Rama) start hitting each other, then I’ll believe that there’s a real split. If they expose each other’s anomalies. It’s only shadow boxing,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said Labella is a ‘stronger’ candidate than Rama since Labella is supported by Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino.

“Without Dino, Labella’s a bubble and without him, he will disappear into thin air. Rama can command votes. He even won in Labella’s own precinct,” the mayor said.

Sought for comment, Labella shrugged off Osmeña’s comments. “I’m sorry if he finds it boring. I’m sorry. (And if he thinks I’m stronger because of Dino), well, that’s his opinion. He’s entitled to his own opinion. I’m backed by the entire PDP – Laban hierarchy, not only Secretary Dino. Dino is not a politician,” Labella said.