Sonny O, son at odds over 2004

CEBU CITY — The relationship between Sen. John "Sonny" Osmeña and his son, Cebu Vice Gov. John Gregory ("JohnJohn"), has turned sour after the senator publicly announced the other day his support for his brother, former governor Lito Osmeña, for governor in 2004 instead of his son who is also vying for the position.

The senator said his son is not heeding his advice to run for a congressional post for the good of his political career.

Sonny said he will support a governor who is competent to sit in the provincial capitol, and for him, it is Lito.

Despite being upset over his father’s announcement, JohnJohn said he is no longer surprised.

"It saddens me but it did not surprise me because I never had his support ever since," he said.

The relationship between the father and son was further shaken by JohnJohn’s commitment to support Gov. Pablo Garcia’s candidate for the Association of Barangay Councils’ Federation in the province.

Sonny said he could not believe that his son is supporting Boljoon ABC president Teresita Celis, who belongs to the Lakas party, instead of their own candidate, Constantino Suezo III of Tuburan.

Sonny is worried about this development, especially that Garcia has already asked mayors who belong to the Alayon party to support Celis, a sister of Boljoon Mayor Deogenes Derama, said to be an ally of Rep. Celestino Martinez Jr. and a best friend of Bogo Mayor Celestino Martinez III who have been their "enemies" since the past elections.

JohnJohn expressed his support for Garcia, who appealed to him and the Alayon mayors to support Celis during their meeting Tuesday night.

Although JohnJohn admitted that Suezo and Celis weigh equal to him, the governor’s appeal has changed the equation.

"It’s not about Suezo and Celis anymore. It’s about the governor. We cannot ignore the appeal of the governor. He is the man I respect," JohnJohn said.

Besides, JohnJohn said his father told him that he is not endorsing any Alayon candidate for the ABC Federation when he called him up Tuesday night.

But Sonny said that Reps. Jose Gullas, Simeon Kintanar, Antonio Yapha, Joseph Ace Durano and Nerissa Soon-Ruiz have agreed to support Suezo, the husband of Tuburan Mayor Rosemarie Suezo.

A highly placed source told reporters that JohnJohn is now in danger of being thrown out of the Alayon party because of his refusal to heed his father’s word.

But JohnJohn remains stubborn.

"I can live without my father’s support. But I cannot live without the governor’s support," he said. — Freeman News Service