INTERCESSION. Monsignor Roberto Alesna prays over the candidates of the Kugi Uswag Sugbo-Panaghiusa Coalition in Cebu City before filing their certificates of candidacy on Tuesday (Oct. 8, 2024). The mayoral race in Cebu City will be a four-corner fight after acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia formalized his election bid and joined the mayoral battle with Councilor Nestor Archival, former Customs commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, and dismissed mayor Michael Rama. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – This capital city’s midterm polls next year will see a four-corner fight for the mayoral race as acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on the last day of filing on Tuesday.
Garcia will battle three other candidates who earlier filed their COCs – incumbent Councilor Nestor Archival of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, former Customs commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, and dismissed mayor Michael Rama under Partido Barug.
Running under the Kugi Uswag Uswag Sugbo-Panaghiusa coalition, Garcia pledged to create more opportunities for the city residents to enhance their quality of life.
Garcia’s running mate, Metropolitan Cebu Water District chairman Joey Daluz, filed his COC for vice mayor, along with 16 coalition candidates for councilors, six of them are reelectionists.
The other vice mayoral candidates are former mayor Tomas Osmeña and Association of Barangay Council president and ex-officio Councilor Franklin Ong.
“I come into this mayoral race fully prepared and very motivated to serve in a permanent capacity after serving you as your acting mayor but also your action mayor in the last five months,” Garcia said shortly after attending a Holy Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral before filing his COC.
He said his experience as acting mayor has strengthened his character and love for the city.
The 47-year-old Garcia, the youngest candidate in the four-way fight, was Rama’s vice mayor and running mate in 2022. (PNA)
