Tomas, opposition dads back Serge for senator

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and two opposition councilors joined the call of Cebuanos for former senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña’s reelection bid in next year’s midterm elections.

Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Joel Garganera of Barug Team Rama PDP-Laban and Tomas, Serge’s brother, expressed support for Serge’s senatorial bid.

The mayor said Cebu needs a voice in the Senate.

“We need a Cebuano in the Senate…He doesn’t care anybody’s agenda,” he told reporters yesterday.

The mayor shared on his Facebook page Wednesday the “Ibalik si Serge Osmeña sa Senado” page, which has around 91,000 followers.

The caption of his post reads, “My brother has always been the voice of reason in the Senate. He’s also the only other Osmeña in politics who I like.”

Serge was included in the top 20 preferred candidates for senator in the 2019 elections based on the survey reportedly conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) from Dec. 8 to 11 last year.

Serge has ranked 15th with 20 percent in the respondents’ preference list.

Tomas, however, said Serge does not want to run again for senator based on their earlier conversations.

But if Serge would have a change of heart, Tomas vowed to ask support from Cebuanos for his brother’s Senate bid.

“I am not trying to convince him but it’s up to him. If Serge will run for senator, I will tell the people of Cebu that we will help him for senator. Personally, I will put one name in the ballot,” he said.

Garcia and Garganera agreed with Tomas that Cebuanos need a voice in the Senate.

“It is a big advantage for Cebu kay he can further the cause of the Cebuanos. For example, lobbying for laws and projects that will be beneficial for Cebu. Sugbuanon gyud siya so duol sa iyang kasing-kasing ang Cebu,” Garcia said.

Garganera said Cebu would hardly be represented in the 18th Congress.

Next years’ elections will most probably be dominated by candidates from Luzon and other provinces.

“The Senate has 24 members. Cebu is the biggest province and we are not properly represented there. Naa ba gu’y Bisaya diha, taga Central Visayas? Wala. Serge has the name, has the experience . So as I said before wala ko masipyat og botar niya,” he said.

As of today, only Senate President Vicente Sotto III has Cebuano roots, being a grandson of Don Vicente Sotto elected in 1946, while his elder brother, Don Filemon Sotto was elected senator of the Philippine Commonwealth.

Serge is a three-time senator. He served as senator from 1995 to 2007, and from 2010 to 2016.

Serge ran for reelection in 2016 but finished #14, next only to Francis Tolentino (#13) and Leila de Lima (#12).—  KBQ (FREEMAN)