Osmeña wants to kick out ABC president from City Council

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña admitted that he wants the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to push through because of personal reason — he wants to take control of the City Council.

Osmeña said it is only through elections that he can “kick out” Association of Barangay Councils president Phillip Zafra as ex-officio member of the City Council.

“You know I want to push through with the barangay election, I have an agenda and it’s not hidden. I need to kick out Zafra and I need to get the SK. I need to get the majority in the City Council. So I’m willing to fight it out and tell it to the people to give me their support so that we can change the ABC and will get the SK,” he told reporters yesterday.

The House Committee on Suffrage voted Monday to postpone the elections from May to October 8, 2018. Osmeña only has eight allies in the 16-member council at present. The present composition of the City Council put him at a disadvantage because the Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella is with the opposition.

Osmeña’s allies in the City Council include his wife, Margot, Sisinio Andales, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Jerry Guardo,  Alvin Arcilla,  Mary Ann Delos Santos,  Joy Augustus Young, and David Tumulak.

The opposition is composed of Labella, Zafra, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Jose Daluz III, Joel Garganera, Renato "Junjun" Osmeña Jr.,  Jocelyn Pesquera,  Eduardo Rama Jr., and Pastor "Jun" Alcover Jr.

“I want to remind the people that I need the ABC presidency, I need the support of the people. I need the barangay captains who are going to support me…Its critical now because its tie in the council so there’s two sits at stake, the ABC and the SK,” the mayor said.

Aside from his personal political agenda, the mayor said it is not fair for the people to postpone the elections for the third time because it would be depriving the voters to exercise democracy and freedom to choose their leaders.

“If the people do not choose their leader, it’s not democratic, we take the word for granted, we all agree with democracy but you want to postpone the election, that’s being inconsistent,” Osmeña said.

Zafra said that he and the mayor are on the same page. He said he also wants the election to push through.

“Kapila na gud ni na postpone, ang amo it should be in the hands of the people, the right to decide who they want nga modala sa barangay,” he said.

Zafra said he respect the personal agenda of the mayor.

“Well that’s the political move, political stand of his side, ato lang respetohan…pila ka higayon nga nanguyab siya. Dili sad angay nga mobalhin sa laing grupo para lang imong ipadayon pagserbisyo,” he said.

Zafra admitted receiving invitation from Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan to join their political group. (FREEMAN)