Tomas confirms run against Rama

MORE than a year away from the next elections, Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district listed names in his lineup and reiterated that he will run against Mayor Michael Rama.

“I’m going to win the election anyway, I think, so I will be running for mayor,” Osmeña said.

He also said that most likely, Vice Mayor Augustus Young will be his running mate and the complete slate of the Bando-Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) lineup is almost complete.

Osmeña said next year’s election will put an end to Rama’s political career.

“He is in danger of suffering a total eclipse especially in the north. Raul del Mar is so angry at him  because of his comments on the flyover issue.  Raul will pound him,” Osmeña told Cebu Daily News.

Osmeña further said  they are having a little problem in choosing whom to field as south district representative.

He said third-term councilor Jose Daluz and his wife and first-term councilor Margot Osmeña are popular choices among BO-PK leaders and supporters in the district.

However, both are hesitant to run for the post.

“BO-PK leaders and barangay officials do not have objections about making Councilor Daluz run but he (Daluz) is reluctant so we will not force the issue.  Another dark horse in the south is Margot but she is also reluctant,” Osmeña told CDN.

BO-PK is left to choose between third-term councilor Rodrigo Abellano and lawyer Aristotle Batuhan.

While Batuhan is not a member of the BO-PK, he is allied with Liberal Party (LP) of President Benigno Aquino, which Osmeña’s BO-PK supported in the 2010 presidential elections.

“It is quite confusing in the south because the leaders are divided.  In the end, it will still be the people who will decide,” he said.

Osmeña said  Abellanosa and Batuhan have their share of supporters among the BO-PK leaders and barangay officials.

When elections come, he may have to settle the issue on whom to support between Abellanosa and Batuhan.

Abellanosa already made his intentions to run for Congress known when he invited south district barangay officials to his birthday party last month.

Batuhan, on the other hand, said he would explore a possible alliance with either Osmeña or Mayor Rama, who is also an LP member, in the coming elections.