Tommy O leads list of top poll spenders

CEBU, Philippines - A total of 56 winning and losing local candidates in Cebu City submitted their statements of election expenses yesterday before the Commission on Elections.

A total of 95 candidates were expected to submit their election expenses as the deadline was supposed to be yesterday, but Comelec decided to extend it.

From among those who submitted their statements, 36 ran for councilor, seven for congressman, seven for mayor and three for vice mayor.

Based on the documents furnished by the Comelec-Cebu City South District, among the 56 who have submitted, Cebu City South District Representative-elect, Tomas Osmeña is the biggest spender with a total expense of P2,195,478.90.

His main opponent businessman Jonathan “Atan” Guardo reported that he spent only P750,000.

In Osmeña’s statement of election expenses, he said that he only spent P52,413 from his personal funds, while P100,000 came from the Liberal Party and P2,043,065 were contributions from other persons.

Guardo on the other hand, spent P450,000 out of his pocket and got P300,000 contributions coming from other persons.

But while Osmeña was the biggest spender, Feliciano Camomot, a councilorial candidate in Cebu City North District, reported that he spent nothing.

According to the Comelec website, Camomot got a total of 2,195 votes and was 28th among 29 bets.

Among those running for city mayor, mayor-elect Michael Rama had the biggest expense incurring a total of P1,390,225.88. He is followed by Georgia Osmeña with P1,212,771.96, Alvin Garcia P851,851.54, Crisologo Saavedra P200,000, Fermiliano Dapitan P45,000, Rodulfo Laconza P9,158 and Anastacio dela Cruz P6,305.

Vice mayor-elect Joy Augustus Young failed to submit his statement of election expenses yesterday, but other candidates in the race such as Rodolfo Cabrera spent P434,000 while Rico Palcuto incurred a total expense of P204,665.16. He is followed by Jessica Go spending P6,058.70 and lawyer Emmanuel Pacquiao spent only P1,000.

Young told The FREEMAN last night that he is submitting his expenses first thing this morning. He said that he was sick and wasn’t able to go to Comelec yesterday.

Among the 39 bets for councilor, the top ten spenders are Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, the wife of Mayor Osmeña, with P748,606.

She is followed by reelected City Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa P525,438.25, Roberto Cabarrubias P546,782, Nida Cabrera P519,750, Felicisino Rupinta P388,550, Augustus Pe P202,573, Raul Alcoseba P199,280, Alvin Dizon P179,511.99 and Sisinio Andales P175,000.

Among the congressional bets, congresswoman-elect Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” del Mar spent P543,121.86. She is followed by Ashley Acedillo who spent P256,790.59, Mary Ann de los Santos spent P202,755.69 and Atty. Florencio Villarin spent P250,000. — THE FREEMAN