Tomas says his wife could beat Mayor Rama

An Osmeña may run for Cebu City mayor in 2013 to challenge a reelection bid of Mayor Michael Rama.

But Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district yesterday said he wasn’t keen on returning to his old post.

“Now he’s asking me to challenge him? Why does it have to be me?” said Osmeña in a press conference at his Guadalupe residence.

“If (Vice Mayor) Joy Young can beat him, then let Joy Young run for mayor. If not, there’s Margot,” he said referring to his wife, who later joined him at the gathering and said she was “not closed” to the idea of running.

While Margot, a first-time city councilor, has long been speculated as a potential candidate, even during the 2010 election, yesterday was the first time her husband openly endorsed her and she didn’t object.

“Before they used to ask me if I’d run as mayor,” said Margot.

“I’d always say NO. But this time, if you’re going to ask me if I am closed to the idea, I would say no, I am not closed… but I am not wide open,” she told reporters.

Tomas, former Cebu City mayor, wanted to respond to Rama’s declaration of “independence” made Thursday when Rama said he was leaving the Bando Osmeña–Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), his political camp for the past 18 years.

“Who cares. If you want to go, then go. Bye,” said the BO-PK chieftain.

Osmeña, who has often blamed Rama for “sleeping with the enemy” by warming up to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, said he wasn’t surprised by the mayor’s decision to cut ties.

Rama earlier said he was fed up being unfairly criticized by BO-PK’s leader and partymates, especially on City Hall’s demolition of illegal shanties in Mahiga Creek, and having to be with a group where “only one voice” makes the decision.

Rama also said he could no longer stand the misinformation that the Osmeña camp was spreading about him, adding that he was ready to face Osmeña if he made a comeback in the 2013 election.

Yesterday, Congressman Osmeña said that with Rama gone, he has the liberty to endorse another BO-PK candidate for mayor in the 2013 election.
“Young will be a very strong candidate especially if all of the city’s barangay captains are intact,” said Osmeña.

He said he and Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar of Cebu’s north district were prepared to support Young, who belongs to the administration Liberal Party.
Osmeña said he could attest that Young is hardworking, honest, straight-forward and takes his work seriously. He said Young made his mark by introducing the night high school program.

Congressman Osmeña said that what Cebu City needs is a mayor who is focused on the delivery of basic services.

“I think Margot and Joy are good at that,” he added.

WHO KNOWS?

Margot, who joined her husband before the press conference ended, said she would have to make the decision herself about a mayoralty bid.

“It’s not something that I think about every day. I have a job as a councilor and I will focus on that and wherever it leads. Who knows?” she said grinning.

Margot told reporters she didn’t seek out politics and was hesitant to run for councilor under the BO-PK banner in May 2010 election.

“It’s something that I don’t prepare (for) because you can’t prepare enough, but right now there are more concerns that I should attend to,” she said.

Yesterday, Tomas recalled that he was forced to support Rama for the mayorship in 2010 because of a promise he had made to Eddie Rama, an uncle.
The late Eddie Rama, father of Councilor Edu Rama, had asked him to take care of Michael.

Also, Osmeña said he was left with no choice because Rama was next in line in the BO-PK.

Although 60 out of 80 barangay captains had signed a petition asking him not to endorse Rama for mayor, Osmeña said he decided to give his successor a chance and now regrets it.

Margot showed a copy of the petition and a resolution by the Guba council opposing Rama’s candidacy.

With Rama’s declaration of “independence” this week, Osmeña said the door was closed to a future alliance with him.

“Not with me. I already had my doubts before but I had to give him a chance. That’s it,” he said.

BETRAYAL

Osmeña said Rama did not only betray BO-PK but also the Liberal Party.

As proof, Osmeña said that while Rama was a member of LP-Cebu Chapter and committed to support the candidacy of now-president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, he was also soliciting support from other presidential candidates.

He said Rama was seen meeting with former GSIS manager Winston Garcia. Rama also reportedly spoke to presidential candidate Joseph Estrada and sought audience with Senator Manuel Villar.

Osmeña said he wouldn’t be surprised if Rama declares an alliance with Governor Garcia.

“Anything is possible. He can do it. To me it is very clear that the alliance (with Gwen) has been there all the time,” he said.

Osmeña is convinced that Rama has long planned of leaving BO-PK and was only waiting for the right timing to do it.

He said Rama was also deviating from an earlier promise he made not to discuss the proposed Cuidad project with Governor Garcia unless a solution is reached on the concerns of occupants of Provincial Ordinance 93-1 lots.

On the “loyalty checks” Rama is making in City Hall, Osmeña said this was a sign of insecurity and paranoia “because he cannot command the respect of other people.”

“To cover for his deficiency, he threatens and conducts loyalty checks.”

“This is the reason why I did not make BO-PK a (political) party so that I will not be asking for pledge of allegiance,” he said.

Miguel O seeks his father’s dreams too

IN the Cebu City mayorship race in 2013, don’t count out the younger generation.

Margot Osmeña yesterday mentioned that her only son Miguel, 26, was a possibility.

“We are not grooming him to become his father’s successor, but if he he takes that path because of family tradition and decides to join politics, then why not?” she said at a press conference in their Guadalupe residence.

Margot noted that Miguel was barely three years old when his father Tomas became city mayor, and was exposed most of his life to this reality.

“But as a mother, I always advise him that before he gets into politics, he must have a different life first. If he wants to be a doctor, first, then we are going to support him. The decision is all up to him.”

The bachelor son has never run for public office, but after his graduation from a California university the other year, he’s been spending time with his father in work-related affairs.

She said Miguel once told his parents he wanted to seek public office because “Papa has dreams for Cebu City, which I want to continue.”

Margot was a bank manager in the United States when the family decided to return to Cebu after the 1986 Edsa uprising and start building Tomas’ political career.