Rama concedes but protest to continue

CEBU, Philippines - A week after losing his re-election bid to Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña, outgoing Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has finally conceded but not without protest.

"I accept but still the protest and the legal procedure will have to go on," Rama told his supporters last night during another vigil at the Plaza Sugbo.

Rama said he does not want to be remembered as a leader who promotes violence and as a leader who takes the law into his own hands.

He, however, assured his supporters that Team Rama will continue to be around even without him at the helm of City Hall.

 "Team Rama will continue to be around, walay biyaay," Rama said.

Rama earlier initiated a signature campaign to protest the election results. He encouraged his supporters to continue the signature campaign until they are able to gather 200,000 signatures.

According to him, he will continue to serve the people with the Church by becoming a member of the Knights of Columbus. He said he will teach catechism to children as part of his service to God.

He asked his supporters to come on May 19 for a Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral which would serve as culmination of his protest rallies.

"Having to have prayer rally will never do good it will only create an impression that we are all level headed, especially Team Rama, we do not want to be an obstructionist. Legal will proceed and I have been telling Team Rama, lets maintain what we've been standing for which is an advocacy of good governance and the rest of what we have been teaching," he said.

He likened the prayer rallies that they have conducted to mourning the passing of someone dear to them.

 "Come on May 19, kay sa namatyan pa ika siyam more or less  ka adlaw gikinahanglan nga magmisa me didto. Just finished the so called period of grief, period of mourn tonight, we have seen we are going back to God we cannot take things within ourselves and we cannot  afford to create trouble because we love Cebu City and  I love my  constituents and they love me too," Rama said.

Willing to work with Osmeña

He clarified that his team is willing to work with Osmeña as long as it will be good for the people.

"I'll be around I'll be with the church just give me a time to take my petition and serving for 24 years I never had a month vacation," Rama said. —/FPL  (FREEMAN)