LP stalwart: Tom more likely to win party nod

At least one senior member of the Liberal Party (LP) confirmed that Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district will be endorsed as the mayoralty bet next year.

“For the official LP candidate in Cebu City, of course I’ll endorse ‘Tommy’. I think that’s the LP opinion but I’ll still consult with the others. That’s my opinion..from our relationship point of view,” former senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr.  said.

Magsaysay swore in hundreds of new LP members, including Cordova mayor Adelino Sitoy, Argao Mayor Edsel Galleos, Barili mayor Teresito Marinas, board member Vic Maambong and others at the Sacred Heart Center, Cebu City.

On learning that Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is an LP member Magsaysay said the decision over who is the LP standard bearer in Cebu City now lies with the LP national executive committee.

The committee is headed by Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas, Sen. Franklin Drillon and Budget Secretary Butch Abad.

If they have a hard time deciding, Magsaysay said the city may be declared a free zone.

“I don’t know Rama is a member of LP, but if Tommy is also with one of the coalition, there will be a free zone. But that’s something that Mar Roxas, Frank Drilon and Butch Abad will have to decide among themselves.” Magsaysay said.

Magsaysay said he doesn’t know if the congressman applied for LP membership.

“But I know that his brother Serge is a ranking member of the national executive committee of LP,” he said.

Magsaysay said while Rama has the advantage being the incumbent mayor, a candidate’s background and influence also counts.

Osmeña earlier claimed that he received a text message from LP headquarters asking him to go to their Manila office.

Despite this, Rama expressed optimism that his group, Team Rama will receive the administration LP nomination saying that he’s a loyal party member attending party conventions and paying party dues.

Osmeña and Rama ran under  the LP in 2010 but they had a falling out last year.

The congressman said even if they don’t get the LP endorsement, they are ready to file their Certificates of Candidacies (COC) as independents.

The filing of the COC with Commission on Election for the 2013 elections will be on Oct. 1 – 5 this year.

Aside from preparing the paper works, Osmeña said his group is now consolidating their political organization in the grassroots.

Osmeña said the BO-PK’s basic principle is that they’re not loyal to a national party.

“Our loyalty is to the people of Cebu City.  We are not subject to any national party discipline,” he said. Correspondent Fe Marie Dumaboc with a story from Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac