2019 midterm election hopefuls

CEBU, Philippines — Just two weeks before the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC), two Cebu City officials have expressed their intentions to run in the 2019 midterm elections.

Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) Chief and former city councilor Lea Japson will run for a council seat.

Japson is part of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan’s councilorial lineup for next year’s polls.

“Usa na gyud ko sa lineup sa BOPK this coming elections,” she said.

She, however, declined to reveal BOPK’s complete councilor slate.

“Inig filing nalang,” she said. The filing of COC is set on October 11 to 17 this year.

Japson served three terms as city councilor from 2007 to 2016 and two terms as barangay captain of Banilad from 2002 to 2007.

Councilor David Tumulak, on the other hand, did not divulge whether he will seek reelection or seek higher position.

But the sure thing is that Tumulak will run for public office.

“Magpapili pa ‘ko, magpapili pa ‘ko,” he said.

Tumulak is currently serving his second term as city councilor. He sits as chairman of the council committee on peace and order, and at the same time deputy mayor for police matters.

The councilor jumped ship to BOPK last year. He ran under Team Rama (now Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban) in 2013 elections.

Tumulak, in an earlier interview, said he is open to run vice mayor.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña considered Tumulak and Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos as his runningmate.

Moreover, Tumulak dismissed rumors that he would run for vice mayor under Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban in lieu of former mayor Michael Rama, who reportedly would run for Congress.

“Wa na’y kamatuoran. Maayo man akong relasyon sa BOPK,” he said.

It was also denied by Rama.

“Ayaw mo pagtuo anang hungihong kay kana pangguba rana. I have made my decision very clearly that I am running for vice mayor. Simple,” Rama said.

Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban is fielding Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella to challenge BOPK stalwart Osmeña. (FREEMAN)