Barug reserves slot for BOPK’s Tumulak

CEBU, Philippines — Barug Team Rama Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan is opening a city councilor slot for Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan Councilor David Tumulak for 2019 midterm polls.

Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia disclosed this to reporters that their party has an available spot for Tumulak.

This pronouncement surfaced after he learned that Tumulak is not yet certain what particular position he will be vying for and whether or not he will be staying in BOPK.

“It has been coming out in the news about David Tumulak that he is not certain to run for BOPK or he is with BOPK pero wala pa siya’y position. So just to inform you that sa atong grupo sa Barug Team Rama PDP Laban, we are opening a slot for him to run for city councilor,” Garcia said.

He mentioned that they are in “constant” communication with Tumulak about this matter but he emphasized that he doesn’t want to pre-empt the upcoming decision of Tumulak.

When asked whether or not they are amenable if Tumulak will run for vice mayor under their party, Garcia said it would not happen since they already made a decision that there will be Labella-Rama tandem in May 2019 elections.

The Barug Team Rama PDP Laban local party is both headed by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and former mayor Michael Rama.

Labella will be the standard bearer of the camp and Rama will be the former’s running mate.

In a separate interview, Tumulak is thankful that the opposition party is willing to include him in their official lineup.

However, he could not yet answer directly whether or not he will shift party affiliations. He vowed to give detailed answers in the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC).

The filing of COC will be from October 12 to 17.

“First, magpasalamat ko sa partido nila ni Councilor Raymond Garcia, taas pud ang ilahang pagsalig diri kanato nga maapil sa ilahang grupo. Ang importante sa tanan nga magpapili gihapon ta kay kita mituo ug masaligon sa katawhan nga nagkinahanglan sila sa atong pagserbisyo,” Tumulak said.

Tumulak described his communication with the opposition party as “open” not constant since they are colleagues in the City Council.

In a separate interview, BOPK affiliated councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña has believed that Tumulak will stay with their party, despite the rumors.

She said Tumulak is an asset to their group since he has been responsible in his duties as a public official.

In fact, Osmeña lauded Tumulak’s performance being the chairman of the council committee on public order and safety as well as the deputy mayor over police matters.

“I believe him, what can I say? Magtuo gyud ko niya, so that’s it…Of course everyone is an asset to the group. No one is a liability and you can see he is very active,” she said.

Meanwhile, Association of Barangay Councils-Cebu City President Franklyn Ong denied reports that there will be an Osmeña-Ong tandem under BOPK.

He said he has no intention of running for a higher position since he wants to devote his time in the barangay level.

“Wala na uy, hapit na ang filing next week…Kana akong dakong pangutana nganong sige na occur,” he said. — GAN (FREEMAN)