In Cebu City: Rama group backs Marcos-Duterte tandem

CEBU, Philippines —  The political group of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Partido Barug-PDP Laban, has endorsed the tandem of Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for the May 2022 elections.

“Definitely it’s of the moment that it has to be now… we officially make a statement that our presidential candidate is BBM – Bongbong Marcos, so that ends this particular saga in what we call the waiting time, and we knew that by February 8, the official presidential campaign will commence, hence, we as a political party being guided that looking forward that is how it will be,” Rama said during a press conference on Wednesday.

 In several occasions, Rama has said his group will support Duterte in her candidacy. Duterte, in a meeting with Marcos in Cebu in October 2021, also raised Rama’s hand, signifying her support for the latter.

Rama said initially they would wait for President Rodrigo Duterte’s pick for candidate to support after Senator Bong Go withdrew from the race.

However, with the campaign period for national candidates set to start on February 8, he said his group decided to come up with a decision now.

He said they consulted some ‘national personalities’ before making the announcement Wednesday. He did not mention who they consulted.

Rama said he can only hope that the President will take the same direction Barug is taking.

“We do not want to be the spokesperson of the President. We have to leave it to the President, but definitely, us in the local scene, we would wish that in the days to come, that whoever the President will anoint will be allied with us. We don’t dictate the President, we only pray and hope that he will also be with us in this direction and we always respect whatever position the President will take,” Rama said.

Rama and Marcos have been friends since the 1960s and he once told The Freeman that both of them have been “victims” of the PCOS machine.

Rama’s running mate, Councilor Raymond Garcia who is heading local group Kusog, Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros who is running as councilor along with the rest of Barug’s line-up, was also present yesterday along with the Marino Partylist.

Another local group, Panaghiusa, led by lawyer Joey Daluz who is supposed to be in alliance with Barug-PDP Laban, has endorsed Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.

 Even with this, Rama said, the alliance with Panaghiusa continues as they share mutual respect.

 “We do not have to discuss that matter because, in fact, today, just to be more on seeing beyond, even our tarpaulin, we just have to carry Partido BARUG PDP-Laban and MARINO as partylist that speaks but whatever on the other side I don’t want to mention any other party because we all are belonging to one original group… we are a conference of political interest and political persuasion,” Rama said.— Decemay P. Padilla, JMO (FREEMAN)