EDITORIAL - Blood is still thicker than water

Another Osmeña is seen to throw her hat into the political arena in the 2010 elections. No, she is not the better half of the present occupant of Cebu City Hall's highest post. She is Mayor Tomas Osmeña's sister who is seemed virtually unknown to ordinary Cebuanos.       

Last Thursday, Georgia Osmeña went quietly to the north district office of the Commission on Elections to register. In order for her to qualify to vote, she has reportedly listed the old Osmeña house along Escario Street as her residence in the city.

Although she chose to keep mum on speculations she would be gunning for the mayoralty post to continue the Osmeña legacy in Cebu, Georgia said there has been no problem if she will enter politics when the term of her big brother ends.

Should Georgia prove the public speculations right and run for mayor in the next election, Vice Mayor Michael Rama would be in a difficult situation, especially if Mayor Osmeña would opt to support Georgia.

It can be recalled that Mayor Osmeña has already proclaimed Rama to be the city's next mayor even if speculations were ripe that his wife, Margot, would end up being the standard bearer of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan in the 2010 elections.

While Mayor Osmeña and Georgia had a falling-out a long time ago, the former said they are already civil to each other. And this means Mayor Osmeña can choose to eventually support her once she decides to vie for the mayoralty post.

If that is the case, Rama's ambition to succeed Mayor Osmeña will then be put to its toughest test.

It cannot be denied that Rama is a hit among city residents. But that is largely due to his strong association with the BOPK, the mayor's political bandwagon that has been dominating local politics since the 1990s.               

Detach Rama from the BOPK and he would be expected to struggle for political survival. Unless Georgia, should she decide to run, would of course settle for the vice mayoralty position, Rama's quest for the highest post in the city would be in total jeopardy.

Mayor Osmeña yesterday said he would continue to support Rama's quest for mayor even if Georgia will also run for the same post. While Rama can now sleep well with that assurance, he should also remember that blood is still thicker than water.