To protect the SRP Tom O might run for congressman

CEBU, Philippines – Is Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña running for congressman in 2010? He said that he will in order to protect the South Road Properties (SRP).

The mayor said that it is important that they protect the city’s interest in the SRP and wants somebody from their family to seek the congressional seat of the South District now being held by Antonio Cuenco, who is in his third and last term.

Osmeña said that it would either be him, his wife Margot or his sister Ma. Victoria ‘Minnie,’ who will be running for congress.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who has been touted as a very good bet for the congressional seat in the south, has already been anointed by Osmeña as the mayoralty bet of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

The move to have an Osmeña run for congress is also meant to help stop opposition leader Jonathan Guardo, who ran and lost in 2007, but has relentlessly pursued his desire to reach out to the voters of the district.

“It’s either Minnie, Margot or me, I can’t afford just anyone to become congressman of South District, because the SRP is there,” Osmeña said.

While Minnie has already expressed intention to run for congress, Margot, the mayor’s wife, has repeatedly said that she is not running for public office. Despite that, she remains popular among the barangay captains not as congresswoman though, but as replacement of her husband at City Hall.

The mayor said that he would not force Rama to seek the congressional seat.

“If I will force Mike, it will appear that I will have my own agenda,” Osmeña said.

Majority of the barangay captains, he said, dislike Rama and have already come up with two manifestos.

The latest manifesto, which called for a Margot-Cong. Raul del Mar tandem, was delivered last week, a few days after Osmeña pleaded the barangay heads to give Rama a chance.

The manifesto was signed by 56 of the 80 barangay heads in Cebu City.

Osmeña, however, assured that the manifesto would not affect his stand of having Rama as BOPK standard bearer next year.

He said that the opposition has no candidates anyway.

“Again they are recycled losers, di ko mupusta sa bihag, Mike Rama won against Raymond Garcia by 150,000 votes, besides Mike now is getting better,” Osmeña said.

Guardo’s Comment

Guardo said that the mayor is just making the SRP as an excuse when the truth is, he doesn’t want to step down from power.

“Alibi ra na. He doesn’t want a Carillo (Gerardo) or an Abellanosa (Rodrigo) or a Rama to run for a big position. Gusto niya Osmeña tanan. It will be Margot for Mayor, Minnie for congress in north and Tomas in the south,” Guardo said.

On his spending to win over the residents, Guardo said, the mayor’s party, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) has also been giving P2000 to senior citizens, millions of pesos in road asphalting, while Carillo is staging discos and concerts.

All these he said are already preparation for 2010.

Another opposition leader, former Mayor Alvin Garcia said the mayor should now take things easy.

“I think he should enjoy the remaining years of his life like me. He deserves it. He should avoid stress and relax more. Besides from his background, he won’t make a good legislator, it would be unfair to the city,” Garcia said.

Rama Speaks Out

Rama denied that he is not being fair in serving the barangay captains.

This after barangay captains from the north alleged that he doesn’t have any accomplishment or project in their district.

“That is of course not true, I have records of my projects and my undertakings that would show, had benefited both districts, my projects are not directly given to them,” Rama said.

These include his traffic and decongesting programs; cultural and historical events such Pasko sa Sugbo, Pasko sa Carbon, Buhing Kalbaryo and most popularly his being chairman of the Sinulog Foundation Inc.

The Sinulog Foundation, he said, earned millions in income which will translate to barangay’s share as Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) once it reaches the National Treasury.

He also listed programs on Coastal Clean up, the rehabilitation of the City Hall Legislative Building and the number of times he served as Acting Mayor.

“Nakalimot sila nga dili pa ko mayor, that’s why, make me your mayor, tagae ko og chance and dinha ninyo makita ang proyekto diretso ninyo,” Rama said

Contenders

Meanwhile Osmeña said he would be willing to take in barangay Luz captain Nida Cabrera and a social worker Alvin Dizon as candidates to replace the outgoing Councilors.

“These are strong contenders, I always believe in government based on participation, sukad na sukad nangita jud ko og agi sa mga NGOs,” Osmeña said.

The two were formally announced as candidates by the Bag-ong Katipunan Alang sa Katilingbanong Katarungan (Bag-ong Katipunan) movement last Saturday.

Outgoing councilors include Abellanosa, Carillo, Arsenio Pacaña, Sylvan Jack Jakosalem and Christopher Alix. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)