Osmeña takes oath before Garcia

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña’s cousin who ran against Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in 2004 is now a councilor in the northern town of Medellin.

Councilor Jose Mari Osmeña took oath before Garcia herself and witnessed by Medellin officials led by Mayor Ricardo Ramirez at the Capitol yesterday.

Osmeña filled the vacant post in the municipal council after councilor Juan Alfonso Lim became vice mayor replacing then Vice Mayor Michael Miranda who resigned from his post last July 1, 2011.

Miranda resigned from his post after his one-year official leave expired on June 30, 2011.

Miranda got re-elected for second term of office in the May 10, 2010 elections but did not assume office on July 1, 2010 and instead filed a leave of absence on July 22 of the same year stating personal and medical problems.

Being number one councilor, Lim acted as presiding officer of the Sangguniang Bayan until his assumption as vice mayor on July 1, 2011.

Ramirez said they chose Osmeña to fill in the post as councilor because of his proven track record.

He was also recommended by his fellow sugarcane planters in Medellin led by Bogo-Medellin Sugarcane Planters Association, Inc. president Jose Mari Miranda who is also the father of former vice mayor Miranda.

Osmeña served as consultant on agricultural concerns in Medellin prior to his election as town councilor in 1998.

He did not seek another term in the 2004 elections and instead ran for governor under Kilusang Bagong Lipunan against Garcia, his nephew and former Vice Governor John-john Gregory Osmeña and Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez.

The two Osmeñas and Martinez lost to Garcia.

Ramirez admitted that he was the campaign manager of Jose Mari that time, although he was allied with the Martinezes, just to muddle the candidacy of John-john, the son of former Senator Sonny Osmeña.

Jose Mari said they are not close with the Osmeñas of Cebu City as they are living far north of Cebu.

He is the son of lawyer Ramon Osmeña, and grandson of former Philippine President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. with the latter’s second wife, Esperanza Limjap.

Ramon is the half-brother of former Senator Sergio “Serging” Osmeña, Jr., the father of Rep. Osmeña and Senator Serge.

Now that he is back in the town council, Jose Mari plans to run for councilor in the 2013 elections. — (FREEMAN)