CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña denied lashing out at his nephew, Councilor Renato “Junjun” Osmeña Jr., in a hotel lobby during the weekend.
The mayor said he was just casually telling him off after his nephew greeted him when their paths crossed.
He stressed that he did not want to see Councilor Osmeña after the latter voted against the passage of a resolution that’s supposed to authorize the mayor to sign an P18-billion deal almost two weeks ago.
“I just said, ‘Stay away.’ He considered that shouting?” Mayor Osmeña told reporters.
In a special session last May 11, the City Council disapproved the resolution drafted by Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. allowing Osmeña to sign the amended joint venture agreement with Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. to develop Kawit Island in the South Road Properties.
Councilor Osmeña was the head of the council’s ad hoc committee tasked to scrutinize the proposal.
The disapproval of the measure has since put a strain on the uncle and nephew’s relationship.
Earlier, Councilor Osmeña described his relationship with the mayor as “amicable” despite his being a member of the opposition.
“What he has done is unbecoming. He is the first legislator that I know of that will vote against his own recommendation. He is an embarrassment not only to the Osmeña family, but to the City Government. He is making a fool of himself,” the mayor said.
Meanwhile, the mayor said he has no problem if former mayor Michael Rama will run again for mayor in next year’s elections.
Rama had said he wants to run for mayor but the matter will still be discussed with his political group.
If it pushes through, it will be the third time that Osmeña and Rama will face each other in the mayoralty race.
In 2013, they ran against each other and Rama won. However, Osmeña took the leadership of the city again three years after.
With only a year before the next national and local elections, Osmeña said he will just do his job and what is good for the city.
“I don’t care what they do. I’m just trying to do my job and do what’s best for Cebu. Who am I to say who should run and who should not run?” he said. (RTF, RVC)