Richie Osmeña may be BOPK councilor bet for south district

A fourth-generation member of the Osmeña clan will probably take one of two vacant slots in the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan ticket for councilors of the city south district for the May 14 elections.

The name of 40-year-old Richie Osmeña, the second eldest son of former vice mayor Renato Osmeña, cropped up yesterday afternoon during the distribution PhilHealth cards to poor constituents of barangay Guadalupe.

Richie's uncle, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, mentioned his name to the public. "He wants to be included on the list and he was considered. But it doesn't mean that (his inclusion) will be automatic just because he is an Osmeña," the mayor told reporters later.

In a separate interview with reporters, Richie said it has been his wish to serve the people and his father Renato had given him the blessing to run for public office.

"I always wanted to help the public and one way (of doing this) is to be in the city council," Richie said, adding that such has been his long-time wish and now is the right time for him to do it.

Richie however admitted that everything depends on the mayor's decision and that he would not join any other party than his uncle's BOPK. "It's all up to the mayor. It's either Mayor Tommy or nothing," he said.

If the BOPK takes in Richie, he and Eugenio Faelnar, president of the Association of Barangay Councils, would fill up the party's two slots for south district councilors that are vacated by last-term incumbents Procopio Fernandez and Jocelyn Pesquera.

For the south district, the party only needs one man to replace outgoing councilor Gabriel Leyson who is expected to run for mayor in Talisay City.

Mayor Osmeña, meanwhile said the ruling BOPK party will be throwing in its full support to the Abanse Pinay partylist for a seat in the House of Representatives.

Tessie Fernandez, the wife of city administrator Francisco "Bimbo" Fernandez, is representing Abanse Pinay. She has been cited as the one responsible for making the city won two awards, Gender and Development award, and Most Women-Friendly City in the country.

"Mohatag ko ninyo og announcement that we will support Abanse Pinay," Osmeña said. - Garry B. Lao