FORMER senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña believes fielding Cebu City’s first lady Margot Osmeña to the City Council is meant to “babysit” Vice Mayor Michael Rama if he wins in 2010.

“I would like to congratulate Mayor Tomas Osmeña on this political master stroke,” Sonny said in a podcast over the Internet.

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He said he will adopt Margot, and three other BOPK bets for councilor, as his candidates as well.

Putting Margot in the council would mean having a de facto mayor for Tomas, which means that the latter still doesn’t trust Rama to lead Cebu City.

“Si Rama gibutangan og babysitter. Igo nalang pareho’g taw-taw sa kahumayan (Rama is given a babysitter. He’s just like a scarecrow),” said Sonny.

Sonny said Tomas might have realized he doesn’t want Rama as his successor.

The opposition, meanwhile, will announce its lineup this week, said former mayor Alvin Garcia.

It will come a week after administration party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) announced its complete slate for the south district that includes Margot Osmeña and Ronald Cuenco.

But for the mayor’s sister Georgia, who is also running for Cebu City mayor, the announcement was just “simple posturing” and that Margot “will not run.”
Georgia said that if something happens to her brother because of his health, Margot will have to be by his side.

Free country

“It’s a free country. She can run anytime. However, I honestly think she should seriously consider her husband Tommy’s medical condition. As his wife she needs to be beside him, especially if his condition should warrant it,” Georgia said.

“If anything happens to Tommy, she will have to drop everything to be by his side and that would leave Cebu with one less council member. That would be unfair for the citizens of Cebu,” Georgia said.

She said Margot is a green card holder and that she does not think her sister-in-law is ready to give it up.

“I think it’s all simple posturing. She won’t run,” Georgia said.

Also, with opposition leader Jonathan “Atan” Guardo accusing the Osmeñas of trying to create a dynasty in Cebu City, Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said the business-man’s family is also into politics.

He mentioned Atan’s brothers, Tisa Barangay Councilor Jeson Guardo and Sambag I Barangay Captain Jerry Guardo.

Surigao

“Their mother is a town mayor in Kantilan, Surigao,” the mayor said.

“You know, whenever Atan opens his mouth, it reveals something about his own views and values. Just like he expected me to abandon Mar Roxas indicates that he may soon abandon Erap. Just watch and then laugh,” he said.

Alvin, on the other hand, said having family members holding elective posts at the same time is now the “trend.” He would rather have the public decide.

He said he could not really comment about political dynasty because his cousins and his uncle are public officials.

He was referring to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, her brother Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, third district), and her father Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, second district).

Gwendolyn and Pablo John’s brother Winston is currently the head of the Government Service Insurance System.

For his part, Sonny understands that endorsing Margot for mayor might create a backlash for Tommy for going against his word about supporting Rama.

But it won’t have been the first time Tomas endorses another candidate for mayor.

Sonny said Tomas repeatedly urged Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) to run for mayor, but del Mar instead chose to focus on endorsing his successor,
daughter Cutie del Mar.

Sonny praised Tomas for endorsing the son of Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district), Ronald to a slot in the City council under BOPK.

“It’s like giving Tony a candy so that he will not run for mayor or support any other candidate for mayor,” said Sonny.

So while there are apprehensions about Tomas’s capability to win against businessman Jonathan Guardo, Sonny said taking Ronald under BOPK’s wing would ensure that Rep. Cuenco’s followers would support Tomas. Tomas intends to run for a seat in congress, representing the south district.

Meanwhile, Sonny said he will adopt four BOPK candidates.

Sonny repeatedly announced his intention to run for Cebu City mayor as an independent candidate.

So far, he has under his slate BOPK bets Margot and Councilors Joey Daluz, Edu Rama and Richard Osmeña.

Talking about another BOPK councilor, Eugenio “Jing-jing” Faelnar, Sonny said somebody must have played a trick on his “friend.”

“Somebody must have played a prank call on Jing-jing because I never called him to ask him to be my running mate,” said Sonny in Bisaya.

Sonny said he would be happy if Jing-jing runs with him; but endorsing Jing-jing would mean straying from his previous announcement of wanting Tomas to be his vice mayor.

Sonny said that when he wins with Tomas as vice mayor, he would then resign so that Tomas would again sit as mayor. (JGA/RHM)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 2, 2009.