Raymond wants to run under BOPK – Tomas

CEBU, Philippines - Kugi Uswag Sugbo (KUSUG) President Raymond Garcia wanted to run for councilor under the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK).

This was revealed yesterday by Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña in a press conference at his house in Barangay Guadalupe.

He said Garcia asked his staff, Jonah John Rodriguez, to get in touch with the host of Osmeña’s radio program, Nanette Garong, and ask her to relay to the BOPK leader his intention to run as councilor under BOPK.

Garong, who was present in yesterday’s press conference, narrated that sometime in September last year, Rodriguez sent her a text message about the possibility of including Garcia in the BOPK lineup.

Then, she met with Garcia and Rodriguez at the Garcias’ ancestral house on Juana Osmeña Street to discuss the possibility of having Garcia  in the BOPK slate.

Garcia is the son of former Cebu City Mayor Alvin Garcia who was defeated by Osmeña in the 2001 and 2004 elections.

But in a separate interview, Raymond said it was not him who requested to be included in the BOPK slate but some of the KUSUG supporters, including Rodriguez.

“Kon gusto pa nako, ako na lang ang moduol ni Tommy ug mohatag sa akong biodata. Daghan ko og mga suod nga amigo diha sa BOPK,” said Raymond.

Raymond revealed that some members of the Garcia family, particularly suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, were against the proposal of him joining BOPK.

Just last week, Garcia announced that KUSUG is supporting reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama, his runningmate, Edgardo Labella, and Team Rama’s candidates for congressmen in north and south districts.

Osmeña said he ignored Garcia’s intention to join BOPK because the Garcia family continued to keep Rodriguez as their staff even after the latter’s conviction  in 2006 for sending nasty and threatening messages to Osmeña’s wife, Margot.  (FREEMAN)