IT’S said there are no permanent friends in politics, only permanent interests, but friends are suddenly an important pre-election issue in Cebu City.

Local opposition leader Jonathan Guardo yesterday challenged Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to walk with him on Colon St. to see who is greeted by a larger number of people and has more friends.

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“Mayor Osmeña said I don’t have any friends while he has plenty.

I beg to disagree. I will ask him that we go to Colon together.

Kami rang duha. Tan-awon nato kinsay daghan mutagad (Just the two of us. Let’s see who gets more greetings),” the businessman said.

Guardo added: “I have 553 friends (in my Facebook account) while he has 223.”

Also yesterday, Capitol spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda challenged the mayor to identify his friends who sponsored his trips abroad. He said this runs counter to the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and should be checked by the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Di man na pwede. (That can’t be done) Who are these friends and these supporters? We all know that is not allowed under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act especially if these friends and supporters are possible service suppliers or providers,” said Sepulveda.

In a press conference yesterday, the mayor said that in saying he has more friends than Guardo, he was referring to those who helped him and the City though they were not acknowledged.

He mentioned as an example businessman Michel Lhuillier, who promised to decorate the trees of Fuente Osmeña rotunda with lights.

He also mentioned former ambassador to Colombia Frank Benedicto, who accommodated him when he went to Bogota to study the Bus Rapid Transit system there in 1996, even though he was no longer mayor.

As further proof of his friends’ generosity, the mayor recalled how he raised P600,000 for a policeman who got shot and hospitalized while responding to an alarm.

Osmeña and Guardo are expected to clash in the May 2010 elections, with both running for the south district’s congressional seat that Rep. Antonio Cuenco is scheduled to vacate.

Guardo continued yesterday his attack on the mayor’s lifestyle, asking where Tomas got the money for his son’s education, their house rental and their “fleet of cars.”

“Since he can’t deny the truth that his only source of income is his salary as mayor, I would also like to know if his sister Minnie is also the one paying for his son Miguel’s college education at the expensive UCLA in the States? Or will the mayor make us believe his son is a scholar there?” Guardo said.

Guardo also challenged the mayor to show proof that he and his family always got upgraded for free to first class when they traveled to the United States while he was seeking treatment for urinary bladder cancer.

Proof

In a text message, the mayor said Miguel is US-born and a California resident, and the state-owned UCLA subsidizes its citizens. “Tuition is minimal,” the mayor said.

He also said he will give his proof that Guardo demanded if the businessman liquidates the P10 million for the 2005 Asean Games.

“I will show proof that I was upgraded to first class after he gives copies of receipts for P10 million in government funds. Abangan,” the mayor told Sun.Star in a text message.

In a press statement yesterday, Guardo said that the mayor, whose salary is P38,000, always refers to his sister Minnie every time his lifestyle is questioned.

“Husto na mayor og kupot sa sayal sa imong igsoon, ikaw man kaha ang hawod sa siyudad, ikaw man kaha ang haring gangis dinhi sa Sugbo, barogi ang mga pangutana kalabot sa imong mga luho nga gastosan (Stop hiding behind your sister’s skirt, mayor, if you are truly the leader of the city. Answer our questions about your lavish lifestyle),” Guardo said.

The mayor earlier said he and his family stay for “free” in their house.

Informed of Guardo’s criticisms, the mayor said, “Minnie is one of my stronger supporters; it’s her contribution to good government.”

“I’m glad she is there for me,” the mayor said.