Lito O: We can’t call Cebu Osmeña country

CEBU — "Cebu has never been Osmeña country."

Thus said former Cebu governor Emilio "Lito" Osmeña as he tried to explain if the poor showing of his brother, Sen. John "Sonny" Osmeña, and his nephew, Vice Gov. John Gregory "John-John" Osmeña, in the May 10 elections would topple the clan’s stronghold in this province.

"We cannot call Cebu Osmeña country because the Osmeñas have always been divided. Tommy (Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña) did not even carry Sonny in his slate," he said.

The former governor attributed his brother Sonny’s present poor standing in the senatorial race to the hard-headedness of his son, John-John.

Lito said John-John’s decision to run for Cebu governor divided the political arena even more.

Sonny has never been defeated in any political battle in the past. He reportedly posted good ballot performance in Mindanao but it was in Cebu that the electorate was divided.

Lito thinks John-John should not have run for governor while his father (Sonny) sought re-election.

Lito described the May 10 elections as generally "orderly" despite the poor showing of his choice presidential aspirant, former Sen. Raul Roco.

He attributed Roco’s defeat to the latter’s decision to go to the United States for back pains, thus leaving the people skeptical if he was serious about running for president.

Meanwhile, Lito described what appears to be the imminent victory of President Arroyo as "winning without honor."

"GMA is winning without honor. It is a dishonorable victory," he said in an interview with radio station dyLA Saturday morning. — Freeman News Service