Gwen won't attack until Tomas is well

CEBU - The tug-of-war between the city and the province over the property being occupied by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is far from over.

Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia may have slowed down saying that she does not want to quarrel with Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña just yet as the latter is still in the United States to seek treatment for a tumor found in his urinary bladder.

The mayor however has not slowed down and assigned Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who is a lawyer, to handle the case.

Garcia said yesterday that she is brushing aside the attacks of Osmeña, but this does not mean she is not in a fighting mood. She pointed out that she will answer the issues of the mayor once he has regained his health.

“I understand that Tomas is under heavy medication right now. We will not answer issues against Tomas until the city mayor will get back to his normal health and resume the word war that he is now trying to provoke,” Garcia said.

She added that she continues to pray for the mayor’s speedy recovery.

“My prayers continue to be with him for his speedy recovery so that media again be treated to what you really like most – the word war between the city and the Province of Cebu,” the governor said.

Garcia also lashed at those who surround Osmeña, who she describes as having their own political ambitions.

“Examine your conscience. Have pity to your mayor. He (Tomas) is facing a hard situation yet you wanted to add stress just you are already thinking your own political agenda,” Garcia said.

Acting Mayor Michael Rama said he would ask the help of the Solicitor General since TESDA is a national government agency that provides services to the public especially students, who cannot afford to go college.

Rama also ordered the City Legal Office to provide assistance to TESDA.

Tom’s Man For Tesda

Councilor Carillo said that the mayor instructed him to use all legal means and assist TESDA in its legal battle against the provincial government.

Carillo, in a press conference yesterday, said that the provincial government has no basis to eject TESDA as the property where the agency is situated is zoned by the city for institutional use.

Carillo said that if the province wants the property to be commercialized, it should request the city for a variance, but he added that Mayor Osmeña had instructed him that the city will not allow the province to commercialize it.

Mayor Osmeña in his text message from New York said, “If their objective is the commercialization of provincial land, may I suggest that they sell the Capitol, whose ownership we will not question. Then they can move to Barili where they rightfully belong and build all the Fuente Garcia’s they want. They don’t belong in Cebu City. And when they move out we will be standing outside waving them goodbye.”

The provincial government the other day filed a civil case before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities to eject TESDA from the 19,306 square meter lot it is currently occupying. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)