TO settle the talks, he said, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday announced his wife Margot and former city councilor Ronald Cuenco will complete the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan’s (BOPK) lineup for the south district.

He assured that Vice Mayor Michael Rama remains BOPK’s candidate for mayor and Joy Young for vice mayor, an announcement that drew cheers. But the loudest applause came after the mayor announced Margot’s candidacy.

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Margot, he said, was chosen because the barangay officials asked for somebody in City Hall that they are already “comfortable” with.

“And it is also to keep Joy Pesquera away from the City Council,” Osmeña said.

Sun.Star tried reaching Pesquera, but she was unavailable for comment as of press time last night.

Asked to comment on the developments, opposition leader Jonathan “Atan” Guardo said the opposition did not consider Ronald for their lineup, as it was Rep. Antonio Cuenco whom they were wooing.

On Margot running for her first elective position, Guardo texted: “Georgia and Sonny Osmeña for mayor. Tommy Osmeña for congressman, Margot Osmeña for councilor.

Need I say more?”

Mayor Osmeña made the announcement during a gathering of south district barangay captains.

It was intended to settle the rumors that she will eventually run for mayor, the mayor’s wife said.

“It’s very clear now that Tommy keeps his word,” Margot said, adding that her decision to run came after consultations with barangay officials and BOPK leaders and supporters.

“For those who have been uncomfortable, I hope it gives them comfort,” she added.

She referred to persistent rumors that although the mayor has already endorsed Rama as his candidate, he would have the BOPK support Margot instead.

Also yesterday, Osmeña said that people asked for the inclusion of Ronald, and he gave his go signal when Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district) announced early last month that he will keep his hands off Cebu City politics.

He said his and the younger Cuenco’s line stayed open all the time, despite his quarrel with Congressman Cuenco.

Congressman Cuenco last Oct. 14 told Sun.Star Cebu he will not run for Cebu City mayor or any other elective position. He said he has decided to join the foreign service
once he leaves Congress next year.

Ronald said that Margot convinced him on his concern over his green card, as he was told that he can always apply for a tourist visa to visit the US, where his family has been based in recent years.

“All I can say is that I am very honored and happy I was chosen and back in the fold of the BOPK…. I’m still hoping for the best, that one of these days they (Tomas and Tony) will reconcile,” Ronald said.

Ronald served as Cebu City councilor from 1992 to 2001 and was an ally of Rama when they were both in the council.

In a separate interview, Margot said she feels ready for the post.

“If I do anything, I’d like to do it well. It (the announcement) is really to settle the questions and make people comfortable,” she said.

Margot and Ronald will be joining incumbent City Councilors Jose Daluz III, Eduardo Rama Jr., Richard Osmeña, Raul Alcoseba, Rodrigo Abellanosa and Roberto Cabarrubias in BOPK’s south district ticket.

Osmeña, though, said that he will announce the BOPK lineup for the north district at the last minute, saying the party is having a difficult time because of limited slots and so many wanting to run.

“Lisod sa north. Very hard. We are not in a hurry anyway. But very clearly, I cannot accommodate everybody. We will just wait for the other side for them to file (their certificates of candidacy) first before I will announce (our north district line up),” Osmeña said.