Wife of ex-Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña to vie for local post

Map of Cebu City.

CEBU CITY — The wife of former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña has decided to run for mayor in the 2022 polls.

In a Facebook post on Monday evening, Tomas announced that Margot will seek the top post in the city.

If Margot wins, she will be the first elected lady mayor of Cebu City.

“Yes, it’s official. What the city needs now is not a strict father, but a caring mother. Like an ailing child, our city needs help. Cebu City has one of the highest COVID case rates in the country, the highest at one point,” Tomas said.

The post was accompanied with the graphic card which says “MOM” or short for Margot Osmeña Mayor.

The announcement came as a surprise since many of Tomas’ followers are expecting him to run again for mayor after losing to incumbent Mayor Edgardo Labella in 2019.

Labella, who aligned with the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, will no longer run for mayor due to health reasons. Instead, the group of Labella is expected to endorse incumbent Vice Mayor Michael Rama who was also a former mayor of Cebu City.

“Margot spent nine years as city councilor and as acting mayor. I am not ashamed to admit that she is more qualified than I am to take care of our city in the painful difficulties our people are going through today. Our city needs a MOM,” Tomas said.

It is not yet clear though whether Tomas will be seeking an elective post in the 2022 polls. Supporters believed that he will be running for congressman of the city’s south district.

JPV