CEBU, Philippines – Amid the political turmoil in Cebu, bigwigs in the metropolitan have announced the formation of alliances as the filing of of certificates of candidacy for the 2025 Philippine elections began on Tuesday, October 1.
One of these alliances forged is between Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, head of the Partido Barug, and Franklyn Ong of BagOng Sugbo.
Ong was previously affiliated with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), which is led by Rama’s political rival Tomas Osmeña. In 2022, Ong ran as the BOPK’s vice mayoral bet but lost to Raymond Alvin Garcia, the head of the Kugi Uswag Sugbo (KUSUG) Party.
“I was asked why it came to this, so let me repeat it, we didn’t imagine this. We didn’t plan it because we’ve worked with Mayor Mike in the past, in times of hardships, COVID-19, Typhoon Odette, he really helped the barangays,” Ong said in a mix of English and Cebuano during an alliance signing event.
Ong is the incumbent chair of Barangay Kasambagan here.
The BagOng Sugbo head cited Rama’s support during the 2022 elections, despite being part of opposing parties.
Ong was still president of the city’s Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) during Rama’s first term after the latter won the mayoral seat in the 2022 elections.
In November 2023, Rama endorsed Ong’s reelection as president of the Cebu City ABC. Ong won and was reelected as ABC president in December 2023.
Meanwhile, Osmeña told Rappler in a text message that he was disappointed to see Ong run with people who “shot up his showroom in one election.”
“It shows how far some people will go in their lust for power. I wish he would run against me. I need the motivation. He said he left because BOPK is practically dissolved,” Osmeña said.
In July, Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival accepted Osmeña’s endorsement as the BOPK’s bet for the mayoral seat in the 2025 elections. Osmeña will be Archival’s running mate as vice mayor.
KUSUG and Panaghiusa merger
Rama and Ong are not the only ones who have formed an alliance. Garcia and lawyer Jose Daluz III, the head of Partido Panaghiusa, both former allies of Rama, have likewise banded together.
“Panaghiusa and KUSUG, we are already just talking about the finer details of the merger but it is already a done deal,” Garcia a press on Monday, September 30.
For context on the rift between Garcia and Rama, the Office of the Ombudsman issued a six-month preventive suspension on May 8 against Rama and seven city officials over unpaid salaries and discrimination faced by four city employees.
Garcia assumed the city’s reins as acting mayor and started a “diplomatic” campaign. On May 27, he signed excavation permits from the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) led by Daluz. Rama and Daluz had already been clashing over the management of the MCWD.
Garcia also sought a partnership with the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) over the development of the Compaña Maritima building at the city’s Aduana area. The CPA filed administrative complaints against Rama in April after an attempt by the mayor’s office to halt the CPA’s port extension project.
Garcia said in a podcast with media personality Jason Monteclar on June 17, that Rama was displeased with his diplomatic campaign and admitted that there was a “distance” between them.
Taxi driver files COC
In a surprising turn of events, the first to file a certificate of candidacy for the 2025 local elections was 57-year-old taxi driver Abdon Alcontin Verdida.
Verdida, who is from Barangay Labangon in Cebu City, filed as an independent candidate for councilor of the city’s southern district. The taxi driver told Rappler that he decided to run to represent Filipino drivers so that their struggles can be heard in the city council.
“Kanang sa PUJ, Taxi, ug habal-habal, ako’y mudala sa ilahang tingog sa konseho kung unsay panginahanglan namo, parte ayuda ba na o subsidy,” said Verdida.
(For the PUJ, Taxi, and habal-habal drivers, I will be amplifying their calls in the council, such as needs like financial assistance and subsidies)
He also promised that if he wins, he would lobby for fuel subsidies and free rides for the public.
Verdida shared that even though the majority of the candidates are under political parties and candidacies like his have rarely been done, he will continue his run for the marginalized drivers across Metro Cebu.
“Wala namang mawawala sa akin kung matatalo ako o mananalo. Ang akin lang sana ay tulungan niyo ako, mga driver, tulungan niyo ako. Mahirap lang tayo kasi walang driver na tumakbo ng ganitong position,” said Verdida.
(I won’t lose anything if I win or don’t win. All I ask is that you help me, fellow drivers, help me. We are only poor because no driver has decided to run for this position) – Rappler.com
