Despite denials by brother Tomas, Georgia says it's Margot for mayor

CEBU, Philippines - Mayoralty aspirant Georgia Osmeña yesterday said her sister-in-law Margot, wife of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, will be eventually running for mayor of Cebu City in next year’s elections.

Georgia cited Margot’s recent visits to north district barangays as a clear sign that she is bent on succeeding her husband.

“Tommy is focusing on the north, campaigning with Margot. Tommy will now field Margot as mayor, which is I expected him to do from day one. It is what Margot always wanted,” Georgia told The Freeman in a text message yesterday afternoon.

However, Mayor Osmeña vehemently denied the claim of his younger sister but admitted that his wife has been visiting some barangays in the north district for some speaking engagements.

Last week, Mayor Osmeña announced that Margot will be running for councilor in the south district.

Georgia said she had received a report that her brother has been accompanying his wife in visiting the northern barangays.

According to Georgia, her source said the mayor will always tell the barangay captains in the north that Margot cares for them and they can approach her.

“The same phrase that the mayor told to the barangay captains in the south district that Margot is here for them,” Georgia said.

She said she believes that Margot will eventually run for mayor and not for councilor in the south district.

But Mayor Osmeña clarified that his wife has been attending various programs in the city’s different barangays since he became the mayor.

“Naay mga functions si Margot sa north kay giimbitar siya but that’s not true nga modagan siya pagkamayor,” Mayor Osmeña said.

He said that those who don’t believe may wait until the deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacy later this month.

“You will know by the end of this month. So, what’s the point ba, you will know before elections because she is going to file first her certificate of candidacy,” he said.

It was learned that Margot visited barangay Lahug the other day and barangay Ermita yesterday for various activities.

The Osmeña couple and Georgia are not on good terms for the past several years.

For her part, Margot said she has been visiting barangays around the city attending on some projects. “Na-involve gud ko sa different projects sa city.”

Margot admitted that she was in barangay Ermita yesterday upon the invitation of different urban poor groups, saying that her visit did not involve politics.

She said that Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who is running for mayor under Mayor Osmeña’s Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, was also invited to the activity.

Rama laughed off Georgia’s claim, saying “I’m leaving it to her, to the one who is making the story, to continue to enjoy her own imagination.”

Rama said he is firm that Mayor Osmeña and his wife will stand by what was agreed upon by the BOPK, which is fielding him and education consultant Augustus Joy Young for mayor and vice mayor in the next elections.

“I have not suspected any of them because I know that Tommy and Margot had been around since the creation of BOPK and they will continue to stand of what has been agreed upon. In fact, ang slate sa south has been completed,” Rama said.

He reiterated that Mayor Osmeña will run for congressman while Margot for councilor in the south district, saying that he would not be affected by whatever Georgia claims.

Opposition leader and businessman Jonathan Guardo, likewise, believes that Margot will not run for mayor.

“I’m basing my opinion on the latest announcement in papers that she (Margot) is going to run for councilor, I think she’ll do better in that side,” Guardo said.

Guardo and Mayor Osmeña seemed to agree on one point that it is normal for Margot to visit the barangays.

“And I’m not sure that (Mayor) Osmeña will change his mind. We all know that he’s been very vocal with his decisions,” Guardo said.

“My only worry is that, if ever Georgia is right, where are they going to put Mike now? It has been Mike announced as mayoral candidate ever since. If they will do that, they are going to disappoint a lot of Mike’s supporters,” he explained.

But if Margot would eventually run for mayor, Guardo said he and his allies are not threatened since they have been prepared for the coming elections. -/LPM    (FREEMAN NEWS)