Former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña isn’t thinking of retiring yet.
The 77-year-old politician said he prefers to run for Toledo City mayor next year.
He mentioned this in yesterday’s meeting of Liberal Party (LP) officials of Barili and Aloguinsan towns of the 3rd district held at the Grand Convention Center in Cebu City.
Osmeña, who announced last year that he was running for a congress seat in 2013, said he is now contemplating four options – run for Cebu governor, for the 3rd district congressional seat, for Toledo City mayor or not run at all.
He urged Dr. Antonio “Jun” Yapha to run for congress in 2013 instead.
In the last 2010 local election, Osmeña filed his candidacy for mayor of Cebu City, but later bowed out in favor his cousin Georgia Osmeña, who didn’t win.
Yesterday, Sonny said that if he is to choose, he would want to run for mayor in Toledo City in order for LP to have a strong hold in the 3rd district.
“Toledo is crucial,” he said.
The incumbent congressman, Pablo John Garcia, is running for Cebu governor, leaving the One Cebu party scouting for a replacement.
Yapha told reporters he was open to the idea for running for congress depending on consultation with the party.
“Dahom-dahom usa na (That’s just dreaming for now),” he said.
During the meeting Sonny pushed for the removal of Toledo City Treasurer Eleuteria Alves over allegations of misuse of city funds.
The group agreed to sign a petition calling Alves removal. The former senator said he is set to fly to Manila today to bring up issues in Cebu province to the LP leaders led by party chairman Mar Roxas.
He said he objects to fielding LP provincial chairman Hilario “Junjun” Davide III, who he said failed to unite LP leaders in Cebu and bring in projects.