ALTHOUGH they denied they will be running for Cebu City mayor and vice mayor, Jonathan “Atan” Guardo and Mary Ann de los Santos said there was a slight possibility they would still change their mind.

The two opposition leaders of Cebu City said it is still weeks before the deadline for the filing of their candidacies.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

The two earlier said they were open to running for mayor and vice-mayor if there is a clamor from Cebu City residents.

Guardo and de los Santos were in Pasil yesterday shaking hands with residents and talking with barangay officials to promote their “OUR (Opportunity, Unity and Reform) Cebu City” campaign.

Tomorrow, both officials will be in Barangay Lahug, where de los Santos is the captain, to continue with their campaign.

In a press conference, both Guardo and de los Santos said they were focused more on their prospective run for House seats.

Guardo is running for the south district congressional seat, while de los Santos will be running for the north.

Guardo said that if he and de los Santos win their respective congressional races next year, there will be a united Cebu City with both district representatives cooperating for one goal.

Guardo and de los Santos both plan to develop the South Reclamation Properties (SRP), saying this was a potential cash cow for the city.

When pressed on their chances of running for City Hall positions, both said there was a slight chance they would change their political plans.

“Well, politics is dynamic. You never know until the last day of filing (of candidacies),” said de los Santos.

During the press conference yesterday, both officials criticized Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and other Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) candidates for mocking their credentials.

De los Santos said Osmeña even awarded her as Cebu City’s outstanding individual in public service back when she was still in good terms with the mayor.

“He personally gave me this award and he questions it now? Was the award rigged that he now questions my credentials?” de los Santos said.

Award

De los Santos said both Vice Mayor Michael Rama and Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) escorted her when she received the award for “Most Outstanding Lupon Tagapamayapa in the Country” from President Arroyo.

She said the University of San Carlos awarded her twice as outstanding alumna in public service.

“It’s sad to note that (Osmeña) doesn’t respect the academe.

But also, it’s time to ask the mayor to truly prove that he really graduated from college,” said de los Santos. The opposition has repeatedly questioned Osmeña’s academic credentials.