Tom won't give up Congress seat

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City mayor and south district congressman-elect Tomas Osmeña yesterday clarified that he will not relinquish his post as the city’s south district representative in Congress, although he likes to become the director general of the National Economic Development Authority.

“It’s 90 percent no, just 10 percent yes,” said Osmeña when The FREEMAN asked him if he will really abandon the congressional post that he won after garnering 125,575 votes against the 67,652 votes against his main political opponent, businessman Jonathan Guardo.

“I don’t think I even have a 10 percent chance, but I don’t mind talking about it,” said Osmeña, whose term as mayor will end on June 30.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, one of the critics of the mayor, said Osmeña is not qualified to be the secretary of NEDA as he lacks the educational background.

According to the governor, Osmeña is fit to become the secretary or an undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture because the 61-year-old mayor had a background in agriculture when he graduated from Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City.

But according to Osmeña that he was successful during his stint as the chairman of the Regional Development Council because he was able to get many infrastructure projects for local governments in the region.

Osmeña earlier told the media that he likes to be the director general of NEDA as he wants to help local government units secure foreign-funding agencies for projects that can improve their localities.

But Guardo said it is not good for the mayor to abandon his congressional post after he was given the mandate by the people of the south district.

“He’s crazy. Iya rang gibinuangan ang mga Cebuanos. He made them believe nga mag-congressman siya and the people voted for him. Unya karon iya ra silang biyaan. Maypa wala na lang siya modagan. He’s making mockery of the last election,” said Guardo.

The FREEMAN also talked to some residents of the south district yesterday and all of them said they want Osmeña to serve as their representative to Congress.

 “Kon dili na siya mag-congressman, kinsa na man lang usab ang modagan?” said Feliza Abella of Barangay Labangon.

 If Osmeña would insist that he wants to be the NEDA director general there is a big chance that president-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III will appoint him to the position as he helped so much in campaigning for Aquino in Cebu City. (FREEMAN NEWS)