Tom not threatened by Alvin's plans

Mayor Tomas Osmeña does not feel threatened by reports that former mayor Alvin Garcia will be fielding former Philippine Basketball Association star Ramon Fernandez and eye doctor Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III to run as councilors in the city's north district.

"Why not, all he (Garcia) has done is keep on talking and talking. Do it," the mayor said. "Of course, that's what he is saying because he has no one else."

Osmeña added that he has heard reports about Garcia floating the names of Fernandez and Larrazabal to run under his Kugi Uswag Sugbu party, but heard no confirmation from the concerned persons themselves.

In a telephone interview with The Freeman, Fernandez said he has not talked with anybody about his running under KUSUG because he is in Zamboanga right now.

"I have no idea that my name is being floated," he said, adding that he may run if he is asked to run but "not this time."

The Freeman also tried to get the side of Larrazabal but he could not be reached for comment.

Osmeña said anybody is welcome to challenge the candidacy of his partymates under Bando-Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), which he also chairs.

"I won't do anything to nullify anybody's candidacy. I never discouraged anyone from running, even for mayor against me. I don't get angry if anybody wants to run," he added.

So far, Osmeña said only a certain Wendell Lope had the courage to challenge him for the city's mayoralty seat.

However, Osmeña said that Lope, who is frequenting the City Hall asking for a dialog with the mayor, is just looking for publicity.

Until now, the mayor has not yet revealed the official names of candidates who would comprise his slate, but said he does not worry about it. In fact, he admitted that he is more worried on whom to include on the list because there are only very little available positions.

"We will decide 30 minutes before the deadline," the mayor said.

So far, BOPK has only two available positions for the City Council, the ones that would be vacated by Councilors Jocelyn Pesquera and Procopio Fernandez, both of the south district, who are on their last term.

The filing of certificate of candidacies for the local elective positions started last January 15 and will end on March 29. - Wenna A. Berondo and Garry B. Lao