Rama wins mayoralty post in Cebu, calls for unity

CEBU CITY – Mayor Michael Rama has offered a hand of reconciliation to his political rivals and urged them to set aside partisan politics and move on as a united city under his participative governance.

 

“We have a challenging and yet inspiring campaign and we have always kept saying that victory is sweet. Naglunop ang akong pagpasaylo. Nagbaha ang akong pagkalimot. Gani ang kasilo kinsa man ang akong pangitaon, kinsay sad-an, di na mao ang akong pagkatawo,” said Rama who won the mayoral election. 

Rama garnered 239,656 votes and won by 36,000 votes against former councilor Margot Osmeña. 

He vowed to lead the city without consideration of one’s political color, saying it is time to leave partisan politics and forget the divisiveness of the May 9 elections to allow the city to move on and keep public service alive. 

“We will continue with our convergence of bottom-up, participative, and inclusive governance. I need everybody’s help, from the 27 departments and the 80 barangays and all stakeholders, and inter-faith dialogue led by Archbishop Jose Palma. Let’s continue the unity under the advocacy of people-private-driven governance,” Rama said. 

Rama also thanked Cebuanos for “their steadfast, unrelenting, and passionate efforts to achieve what we have gained,” underscoring the “awe-inspiring substantial majority” of councilors from his political party, the Barug PDP-Laban. 

Of the 16 candidates for councilor, eight are from each of the two districts and 12 are from his party while the rest are from the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan-Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino. 

The incumbent Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros also topped other candidates for councilor with 191,938 votes. The south district councilor succeeded Rama as presiding officer of the City Council in November last year after the death of Mayor Edgardo Labella. 

During his speech, Rama offered a minute of silence to thank Labella whom he considered his partner in public service. Labella’s son, Jaypee, won as councilor in the north district. 

Rama said the presidency under Bongbong Marcos Jr. and the vice presidency with Sara Duterte, will give the country a “unifying and healing effect.” He underscored the number of votes Marcos garnered in Cebu City against Vice President Leni Robredo as a “substantial advantage” for the city in terms of assistance and support from the national government under the new administration. (John Rey Saavedra)