Tom unsure of support for Noy, "speechless" on Roxas decision

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas Osmeña was among the first to know of Senator Manuel Roxas’ decision to withdraw from the presidential race the other day.

In his regular press conference yesterday, Osmeña said he was speechless when Roxas called him up and informed him of the development before the Liberal Party president faced the Manila press and revealed his decision to stand aside and support fellow Senator and Liberal Party member Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

“I really don’t know what to say…very frankly, I’m a little bit sad, my mental focus has always been on Mar,” Osmeña said.

As early as last year, Osmeña has been very vocal about his support for Roxas’ bid for the presidency.

Roxas reportedly never discussed the issue on survey results that saw him left behind by other presidential hopefuls. Still, Osmeña said he believes that the withdrawal is the “best decision he ever had.”

But Osmeña said the turn of events just showed Roxas’ selflessness and that he was right in choosing to support him.

“He knows how to sacrifice and it shows that I did not make a mistake in choosing him,” Osmeña said.

“Unfortunately, that’s the way he could prove it, to really sacrifice himself. He would have made a very good president,” the Mayor added.

Osmeña has always admired Roxas for bringing in the call centers to the Philippines where around 50,000 Cebuanos are now working.

With Roxas out of the picture, Osmeña said he is yet to decide whether or not to give the same support to Aquino.

“I don’t know much about Noynoy, I know he is a very decent man… he has to sell himself. What I am saying is, it is not automatic because he replaces Mar,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña, nevertheless, said he is close to Senators Francisco “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda. He said he has been friends with Legarda since way back in Los Angeles where he used to live.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Jonathan Guardo said he already “preempted” such turn of events even before Roxas made his announcement.

What he is reportedly worried about now, Guardo said, is the possibility that the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan would decide to support former president Joseph Estrada or Senator Manuel Villar who Kusug Uswag Sugbu is looking at supporting.

“Admittedly, the opposition is really the underdog, so if we will support the same candidate, the presidentiable will surely pick the incumbent,” Guardo said. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO (THE FREEMAN)