CEBU, Philippines - Mayoralty aspirant Crisologo Saavedra has advised Mayor Tomas Osmeña to stop removing the basketball boards donated by his political rivals to different barangays in the city.
During a roundtable discussion with The FREEMAN’s “Know Your Candidate,” Saavedra said Osmeña should refrain from removing the basketball boards otherwise he could be accused of abusing his power as mayor, especially now that he is running for congressman in the city’s south district.
Osmeña is running against businessman Jonathan Guardo, the sponsor of the basketball boards that the mayor has ordered removed.
Guardo has complained of the move of City Hall to remove the basketball boards he has donated to several barangays, the most recent of which was in Barangay Buot-taup, a mountain barangay in the south district.
But Osmeña explained he made the directive only to teach his political opponent a lesson.
“I am reacting to vandals who remove government boards from government goals. Don’t you think it’s about time I should make these people respect the law? Then what’s to stop them from hanging their billboards on Magellan’s cross?” Osmeña said.
“The biggest vandals in the south district are Guardo and Alvin Garcia who dirty up our streets with their ridiculous faces. Do you see a single poster of Tommy Osmeña plastered on your wall?” the mayor added.
Osmeña said the City Hall personnel will continue to tear down basketball boards of the opposition candidates installed on government posts in different barangays if someone from that barangay will complain about it.
It was learned that Buot-taup barangay captain Ritchie Sibla is allied with Guardo, while councilor Rosalita “Daya” Calleno, who used to be the barangay captain of the place, is an Osmeña supporter.
During the roundtable discussion, Saavedra said he will not tear down basketball boards donated by his political opponents if he gets to sit as mayor. — Rene U. Borromeo/JMO(FREEMAN NEWS)