This despite the results of the recent survey that showed mayoralty aspirant Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano and his running mate Carlo, Pontico Fortuna, leading their rivals in the May 14 elections.
The survey, which was conducted by the political science students of the University of San Carlos, showed that out of 4,000 respondents in Mandaue City, Ouano got 1,864 or 46.6 percent.
Cortes came in second with a score of 1,520 or 30 percent, followed by Vice Mayor Amadeo Seno Jr. with 302 votes or 7.55 percent.
For the vice mayoralty race, Fortuna took the lead with 1,845 or 46.1 percent while Bercede came in second with 1,500 or 37.5 percent.
Based on the results of the survey, Osmeña, who openly announced his support for the Cortes-Bercede tandem, said he was surprised because he did not expect that the two would get many votes.
"That’s better than I thought. I’m surprised that it’s something like that," the mayor said. He added that three weeks ago, Cortes and Bercede were lagging behind other candidates, and expressed surprise by the big improvement.
Osmeña said one of the reasons why Cortes and Bercede scored high is that the survey was conducted with the younger people.
The mayor admitted that there is perception that "there’s no way that Jonas can win" but he is happy that Cortes did not get zero. He said Cortes and Bercede could still get better in their candidacies and catch up even with the short period of time.
However, he said the problem with Cortes is that he does not have his own organization, so he is helping him organize his own political group.
"That’s why I provide them with technical assistance and try to shorten the process for their own networking," Osmeña said.
Earlier, Osmeña explained that he is helping the opposition in Mandaue City to organize and come up with a strong group like his own political group, Bando-Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.
He said he is trying to help them set up the system and procedures "to offset the established machinery that they are up against like the existing machineries of the Ouanos and Soons."
Osmeña said although the Ouanos have already established patrimonial connections in Mandaue City, he expects that Cortes could still get better.
He said that if Jonas wins, he foresees a better relationship between Cebu City and Mandaue City, and his administration will provide help to the neighboring city in any way it could.
Meanwhile, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano yesterday laughed off the pronouncement of Osmeña that he is not meddling in the city’s politics.
"Kung wa siya nanghilabot sa pulitika sa Mandaue, nag-unsa man diay siya, namaligya og botelya?" Ouano said.
Ouano said Osmeña’s declaration of support for the tandem of Cortes and Bercede is a "kiss of death" for the two.
"Tomas’ support is just like a kiss of death," said the mayor, the father of Jonkie.  Wenna A. Berondo and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM