Gwen tells Tom: Don’t interfere; you’re not city mayor anymore
CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday called on Cebu City South Rep. Tomas Osmeña not to interfere anymore in the 93-1 lot issue.
“He shouldn’t interfere in things that don’t involve him. He’s no longer the mayor. These affected settlers are not under his district,” she said in an interview in Carcar City.
Garcia said that Osmeña was “insecure” and just “seeking attention.”
On Wednesday, Osmeña spoke at a forum of 93-1 lot occupants and questioned the “credibility” of the governor in dealing with them.
He said he doesn’t see a solution in the issue, which has dragged since 2007, unless “the governor is changed from the office.”
Garcia repeated her promise to resolve tenure issues of occupants of 93-1 lots owned by the province before her term ends in 2013.
“I can say that because I am the governor of Cebu. These lots under Ordinance 93-1 belong to the province of Cebu. So I’m not irrelevant unlike others who interfere even though they are not involved. So cool it, manoy,” Garcia said.
Garcia reminded Osmeña that he is a congressman and no longer city mayor.
Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama disowned a letter sent in his name by his secretary to the City Council seeking authority for the mayor to sign the agreement establishing the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB).
Rama said the June 27 letter sent by Belinda Navascuez contradicted his stand that he didn’t need council authority for the document that he already signed last April.
“Kamoy nagpasulod ana. Wala koy labot ana,” Rama told Navascuez, whom he called to his noontime press conference yesterday.
Navascuez said it was city administrator Jose Mari Poblete who instructed her to write the council.
Poblete said in a separate interview that he could not recall giving such an order.
“I already signed (the MOA) to pledge support (to the creation of the MCDCB) but I was not asking for council authority…. When I signed (the MOA), it was only a pledge of commitment and the governor understood the situation,” said Mayor Rama.
The mayor said he would only need council authority when Cebu City has to spend funds to contribute to the MCDCB, which is headed by the governor.
“If we start to talk about money, it has to go through the City Council,” said the mayor. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus and Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac
