There’s now a growing clamor for former senator Serge Osmeña to run again for the Senate. No less than Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is leading the campaign calling for his older brother to throw his hat into the political ring again as preparations are now underway for next year’s election.
Mayor Osmeña shared on social media a Facebook page calling for Serge’s return to the Senate, which has almost 100,000 followers. “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,” the mayor told reporters recently.
Even Tomas’ political opponents in City Hall support the idea of Serge’s Senate return. Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Joel Garganera of Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban both said that Cebuanos should have a representative in the Senate.
However, it seems Serge is no longer interested in another Senate campaign. Mayor Osmeña said the three-time senator does not want to run again. In the present batch, only Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has Cebuano roots.
There’s really no question about the need for Cebuanos to be represented in the Senate. Their contribution to national growth has been undeniable considering the fact that Cebu is the hub of commerce and culture in the Visayas and Mindanao.
But when we speak of Cebuanos, it does not only mean we only consider those living in Cebu. There are millions scattered across the Visayas and Mindanao who consider themselves true-blue Cebuanos and who need a national voice to carry their cause.
Should Serge, or someone from Cebu, win a seat in the Senate next year, he is bound to represent not only those in the province since millions of those who speak their language in other areas also embrace him as their own.