Osmeña wants someone from urban poor to replace Jagmoc

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña revealed that he wants a person from the urban poor to replace Councilor Edwin Jagmoc in their lineup for the 2010 elections.

This after the councilor, who is currently serving his second term, has made an announcement that he will no longer seek another term in the coming polls.

According to Osmeña, Jagmoc told him about his plan but the mayor added that he doesn’t want to talk about the reason for this is “too personal.” But Osmeña intends to fill the slot that will be vacated by the councilor by someone from the urban poor group and, probably, coming from Barangay Sambag II.

“Jagmoc came from the urban poor, so, we will have to get representation from the urban poor and we will see to it that Sambag II is represented,” Osmeña said.

The councilor resides in Sambag II and was once a barangay councilman before he sought the city council’s seat. He is also a lay minister and the president of the Federation of Parents-Teachers Community Association (PTCA) in the city.

Last July, Jagmoc hugged controversy when he was linked to a member of the Mayor’s Management Team (MMT), an allegation that he vehemently denied.

Speculations have come up that the said controversy is the reason why Jagmoc decided to shun from the political scene next year.

Osmeña said councilor may no longer need to explanation his decision since he is already going out from city politics. “If he is going in, he has to explain but he is going out, I don’t think he has to explain anything,” the mayor said.

Jagmoc’s decision brings to five the number of vacant slots in the Bando Osmena Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) slate for councilor in the city’s north district.

Councilors Nestor Archival, Sylvan Jakosalem and Christopher Alix are on their third and last term and can no longer seek re-election.

Hilario Davide III tendered his resignation as councilor last month to concentrate on his new role as provincial chairman of the Liberal Party in Cebu.

Osmeña, however, doesn’t see any problem in looking for replacement since they have a long list for would be councilors in the north district. But he said that they will only reveal their complete lineup on the last day of filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC).

“That is a political tactic kay aron ang pikas wala gyoy kandidato mapili kay magpaabot ra man na sila sa dili makuha sa BOPK,” Osmeña said. — Elly Bolonos/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)