Endorses Roxas for Prexy: Tomas ‘not yet final’ on mayoralty race

CEBU, Philippines - Former congressman and mayor Tomas Osmeña is not certain yet whether or not he will run again and contest the Cebu City mayor’s seat in the elections next year.

He, however, said it would be to his shame if he would leave the fight against former protégé and current City Mayor Michael Rama to his wife, City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña.

“Nothing is final but it is very close to being final because they say it‘s between be me and my wife. For me, I don’t like my wife to fight for me kay mauwaw ko’s mga tao uy. You don’t do that,” he told reporters during his post-birthday celebration last Thursday.

He said there is nothing final until the day of the filing of certificate of candidacy before the Commission on Elections in October.

He also said that he always listens to what the people would say in the surveys, which is why him running for mayor is not final yet.

With the recent announcement of a partial list of candidates under Team Rama, Osmeña said he is “not panicking” to reveal Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan’s lineup.

He said he could finish coming up with the BOPK candidates in 24 hours but he would not do it since there are a lot of factors to consider.

“The day of the filing will be for sure,” he said as to when asked when he will reveal BOPK’s candidates.

“I’m not panicking. I’m not trying to hang on to anything. I’m not trying to react to anything. We have a lot of pretty good ideas of what we want to do,” Osmeña added.

He said they would not yet divulge their candidates’ identities since someone new and more deserving might surface.

One thing is for sure, he said, he is looking for public servants, especially those who have the abilities and not just the popularity.

Rama earlier announced the partial list of candidates who will run with him in next year’s elections.

For the congressional candidates, Rama said they would be former city mayor Alvin Garcia (north district) Alvin Garcia for the north district while incumbent City Councilor Gerardo Carillo will run for the south district.

For north district councilors, Rama listed incumbent City Councilors Mary Ann de los Santos and Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao, and former Sambag I barangay captain Jerry Guardo.

For south district councilors, Rama named incumbent City Councilors James Cuenco, Nendell Hanz Abella, David Tumulak, and Renato Osmeña.

Ossmeña and Margot had a joint post-birthday celebration last night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel oand CasinaHotel in Salinas Drive, Lahug.

During the celebration, the former mayor ALSO declared that he would be supporting the tandem of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Senator Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero for president and vice president, respectively.

Osmeña said Roxas was supposed to join them in the event but was unable to come due to the officials announcement of President Benigno Aquino III declaring Roxas as the presidential candidate under the Liberal Party.

“Ako lang ipahibawo kaninyong tanan. Kanang mosulti sila sa survey, mura’g naay kuwang si Mar. Usahay, mopili ta’g kandidata na popular. Pero di makahatag ug guarantee nga inigdaug sila, duna silay abilidad. Mas maayo og mopili ta’g tawo nga naay abilidad,” he said.

“Kung kuwang siya sa popularity, mag-kampanya lang ta kay makahatag ug assurance nga inig abot sa pudir, naa siyay abilidad,” Osmeña said, adding that it was Roxas who introduced call centers in the country,” he added.

City Councilors Sisinio Andales, Nida Cabrera, Nestor Archival, Eugenio Gabuya, Alvin Dizon, Alvin Arcilla, and Lea Japson were present in the event, which north district Representative Raul del Mar and south district Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa also atttended.

Other personalities include business tycoons, BOPK supporters, barangay officials, youth organizations, and senior citizens clad in yellow and white with “Type O” and “BOPK Ko” to show support to the former mayor.

The only incumbent Cebu City Hall department head seen during the party was Randy Navarro, chief of the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

In an interview, Navarro expressed his intent to run for City Councilor next year.

He, however, said he is not certain yet where to go either to Team Rama or BOPK.

Sought for his comment, Rama said Navarro did not inform him that he was attending his political enemy’s birthday party.

“But I will not take it against Randy. Randy is still a part (of our party),” Rama said, adding that he would now include Navarro in his own survey.

 “I’m considering him to join in the survey. So that when the survey will speak that he will be a (good candidate), why not? But there is always an assessment,” Rama said.

Asked if his “fellowship” inside the Rama compound in Barangay Basak San Nicolas with 70 of the city’s 80 barangay captains was a form of loyalty check, he said every day always requires vigilance. — (FREEMAN)