Lito wants to field son for Cebu City vice mayor

CEBU, Philippines — Former Cebu governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña is pushing his son, businessman Mariano “Mimo” Osmeña, to run for vice mayor of Cebu City in the 2019 midterm elections.

Lito said Mimo will run under Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives (Promdi) party which he founded when he ran for president in the 1998 presidential elections.

Lito has warned Mimo not to fight against his uncle, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, as their aim is to help the programs and projects of the mayor for the next two terms and to continue these projects beyond Tomas’ term.

“I have a son of the right age, of right economic background, of right education that we have to convince to take over from Tommy because Cebu City is the key to Cebu,” Lito said.

He explained that Tomas deserves the next two terms to finish the Development of South Road Properties and other projects that both of them initiated when he was governor of the province and Tomas was mayor of the city.

Lito stressed that with the new technology, there is also a need for a new crop of leaders who know modernity and the eccentricity of new economy.

“Let me think about it. Give me time kay Oktubre pa man ang filing,” Lito quoted Mimo as saying when asked if they have already talked about it.

Lito said he may file the certificate of candidacy until Mimo finally decides as it is allowed in the law and they have also a registered political party.

“Whatever other details to be arranged, it’s up to him already. He wants to put up a full slate, basta di lang siya mosukol sa iya uncle Tommy,” Lito said.

Lito has reservations about Tomas but said it is understandable.

“Many times we have disagreement with Tommy but we don’t fight against each other,” he said.

Among the things Lito wants Mimo to help solve are the traffic and flood problems Cebu City is facing now.

Lito said he asked Mimo to do research in other countries that are already successful in solving such problems. (FREEMAN)