Tomas to promote Cebu sans Santa Fe

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will exclude Santa Fe in Bantayan Island from his efforts to promote Cebu.

This was his statement yesterday as he reiterated that he will answer any complaint that will be filed by Santa Fe Mayor Jose Esgana who alleged that Osmeña threatened him at a hotel in Cebu City last weekend.

Osmeña said that contrary to Esgana’s allegation, he did not threaten the Santa Fe mayor and personnel of the hotel where the incident allegedly happened can reportedly attest to this.

“I was unarmed with no security in the middle of the hotel lobby. I didn't say ‘p----- ina’ or ‘f--- you’ or promise to throw him out of a helicopter. He is just kulang sa pansin because he has no development to show,” Osmeña said.

“I had an investor for a major resort and I abandoned the project. I was trying promoting Cebu, which cannot compete with Boracay although they are comparable. Santa Fe has no future with a mayor like that,” Osmeña said.

He said he is also helping a friend to promote his island off the Municipality of Bantayan, which is located next to Santa Fe in Bantayan Island.

Aside from the island in Bantayan town, Osmeña said he will also promote a turboprop seaplane service that can bring local and international tourists from the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City to Lakawon Island in neighboring Negros Occidental.

“I’m scheduled to fly to Lakawon Island on Wednesday. I will post pictures after so the people of Santa Fe will see what I cannot do for them,” Osmeña said.

“I pity the people of Santa Fe for having a mayor that is irrelevant,” he added.

Yesterday afternoon, Esgana had the incident entered into the blotter at the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7.

In an interview with The Freeman Sunday, Esgana said he was at Marriott Hotel last Saturday morning for a meeting when he spotted Osmeña with businessman Alex Tan.

He then decided to approach him, knowing they used to be allies in the Liberal Party.

As he approached Osmeña and Tan, however, Tan allegedly pointed at him while telling Osmeña he is the mayor of Santa Fe.

“Imbes na mo-lamano ni Mayor Tomas, nisulti man dayon si Mayor - medyo taas-taas to pagkasulti - unya (niingon) 'bantay-bantay lang ka ha'," Esgana said.

Tan is the owner of Island Shipping whose vessels travel to Bantayan Island from mainland Cebu. He also filed a case against Esgana in the past, which led to the mayor’s suspension.

Osmeña denied making threats and told The Freeman he simply recalled an incident a few years ago when Esgana ordered the barb wire, which served as the fence of the beachfront property of his sister Minnie, removed.

“Dili sab sila mosugot nga kuralon og kawayan ang property ni Minnie pero misugot sila sa uban nga ang ilang property kuralon og semento. Unsa man na? Mao na nga wala molambo ang tourism industry sa Santa Fe,” Osmeña told The Freeman earlier.

Esgana said he was only implementing a municipal ordinance that prohibits beach front owners from using barb wires in fencing their property. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo with Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)