Tomas snubs mayoralty candidate Lope

Independent mayoralty candidate Wendell Lope yesterday went to City Hall to meet with Mayor Tomas Osmeña but ended up being interrogated and body-searched by security personnel who are members of the Barangay Intelligence Network.

Lope barged into the City Hall Annex building's 8th floor, where Osmeña holds office, at almost 1 p.m. Osmeña just finished his regular press conference at that time. Lope insisted he wanted to meet the mayor after reportedly expressing in a letter of request, last week, his desire to have a meeting with him.

When asked on what his meeting with Osmeña will be about, Lope said he wants "to settle things with the mayor about his candidacy."

"Among saboton kun kinsa gyud ang modagan namong duha," Lope said.

He was, however, advised to see Vice Mayor Michael Rama instead.

Lope has already formally submitted his petition for inclusion before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities. He is asking Comelec to include his name in the list of voters in barangay Tinago.

Lope, 31, insisted he is a resident of Zulueta Street in barangay Tinago, Cebu City. It was learned he was born in barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City.

In his certificate of candidacy, Lope said he is a president of "people's volunteers", thus uses the nickname "Mr. President".

Earlier, Comelec said precinct 4530-A in barangay Tinago, where Lope claims to be registered, does not exist. - Ramil V. Ayuman