Sonny Osmeña passes away at 86

CEBU, Philippines —  Former senator, congressman, and mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña succumbed to complications of colon cancer on Tuesday. He was 86.

Osmeña passed away in his condominium and his remains were immediately cremated, her sister, Annie Osmeña-Aboitiz, said.

Osmeña’s media consultant Ferliza Contratista said the former senator was hospitalized on Jan. 9 for pain in the body and was discharged on Jan. 16 by his doctor-nephew, Justin Osmeña.

He turned 86 on Jan. 17.

He is survived by son John Gregory Osmeña, grandsons, sister Annie and his brother, former Cebu governor Lito Osmeña.

Osmeña was a senator (1971-1972, 1987-1995, 1998-2004), a congressman (1969 and 1995 terms) and mayor (2013-2019). However, his political career started when he was elected to the Cebu City Council in 1963.

He then became Cebu City’s vice mayor in 1968 and was appointed as officer-in-charge mayor of Cebu City in 1986.

Osmeña was among those injured when the Plaza Miranda was bombed on Aug. 21, 1971 while the Liberal Party was then holding its miting de avance. Eleven people were killed and several others injured in the explosion.

When former President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law on Sept. 23, 1972, Osmeña went in exile in United States. When former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino was killed on Aug. 21, 1963, Osmeña was the first political exile to go back to the country and went to fight against the Marcos dictatorship.

Mourning in Cebu City

Mayor Edgardo Labella signed Executive Order No. 119, declaring a citywide period of mourning in Cebu City from Feb. 3-5 following Osmeña’s death.

All government agencies, offices, and installations within Cebu City are directed to lower their Philippine flags to half-mast throughout this period.

“Former senator Sonny Osmeña leaves an enduring legacy in politics and governance in our country, especially in Cebu. His long political life has seen him serve Cebu City, the province, Toledo City, and the entire country in various capacities,” Labella said.

Labella said the period of mourning is in honor of the former senator’s many contributions, which included authoring the law that created the Department of Energy, Electric Power Crisis Act, and Build-to-Operate Act.

The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, also mourns the demise of former congressman, who had represented the people of the 2nd and 3rd districts of Cebu in the 7th and 10th Congresses, respectively.

Toledo City Mayor Marjorie “Joie” Perales, in her Facebook post, thanked Osmeña for “reshaping” Toledo City.

“Words are not enough to thank you, Senator John Henry Osmeña, for reshaping Toledo City and tossing it to success. Tinood gyud nga pinangga kami sa kahitas-an kay sa wala damha gitagaan kami ug amahan nga sama kanimo. Look at Toledo City now! Amoang dakong garbo ug pasidungog kanimo ang tanan nga kalampusan niining dakbayan. I promise to continue bringing this city to distant heights,” Perales’ post read.

'Heart for the people'

Labella, for his part, described Osmeña as a fighter and a survivor who touched the lives of many Cebuanos and Filipinos throughout his extensive political career.

“I fondly look back to Sonny’s visits to my office when I was still vice mayor. We would talk about governance and our responsibilities in our respective local governments. He truly had a heart for the people. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family. You will be remembered, Sonny!” Labella said.

Osmeña was first diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer in July 2019 and remained a fighter after receiving treatment. He even did several travels abroad.

He contracted COVID-19 in June 2020 and conquered the virus after 21 days of being in the hospital.

After that, he managed to attend various celebrations in Toledo City, including his staff’s gathering on on Christmas eve. The day after, he was bedridden.

The nine-day mass for Osmeña’s remains started yesterday at St. John de Sahagun Church in Toledo City. His remains were burried yesterday at the Skyline Columbary in Barangay Busay, Cebu City.—  JMD (FREEMAN)