MINNIE Osmeña has started her daily consultations with barangay officials, and some of them believe she will run for Cebu City mayor.

Barangay officials said that aside from inquiring about their problems and how she can help the barangay with their pending projects, Minnie has hinted she will be seeking the mayorship to replace her younger brother, incumbent Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

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In Barangay Punta Princesa, barangay officials said Minnie went as far as asking for their opinion on the possibility that she would run for mayor when she held a pulong-pulong there last Monday night.

Problems on defective vehicles, lot acquisition, road repairs and livelihood were raised to Osmeña during consultations with officials of Barangays Quiot, Poblacion Pardo, Inayawan, Punta Princesa and Bulacao and Cogon Pardo.

A day after their pulong-pulong with Minnie, Poblacion Pardo Barangay Captain Fermin Dasmariñas said City Hall personnel picked up his damaged dump truck and had it repaired.

Punta Princesa Barangay Captain Rodulfo Deorico said that he and his councilors were surprised when Minnie brought up the matter and said that she might run for mayor.

In three other south district barangays, Minnie was more vague and would not say if she is seeking the mayorship or the district’s congressional seat.

“Nahibung bitaw mi kay human na man niingon si Mayor Tom na si Vice Mayor Rama na ang candidate for mayor. But we think Minnie will make a good mayor because she has the brains. I used to listen to her father’s speeches before and I think she is a lot like him and Mayor Tom. She’s articulate and straightforward, kanang storya bitaw na makabuhi ug patay, ingana,” Deorico said.

He said they would not have difficulty choosing between Rama and Minnie when the time comes.

“If she will be the one anointed by the mayor, then we will support her. My loyalty is with BOPK so whoever is the party’s candidate, ug si Mike or Minnie, then I will support. Ma’am Minnie said she might run and if she is endorsed by the mayor, adto mi niya,” said Deorico.

In a phone interview yesterday, Minnie kept mum on her political plans and reiterated that she will leave it up to the mayor to decide on the matter.

She said that she has visited six barangays so far and will be visiting three to five barangays a night.

Report

A City Hall source said that Minnie will tackle the south district barangay’s problems first before proceeding to the north district.

“I’m just trying to get to know our barangay captains, asking about their problems and following up their needs. I’m just helping my brother while he is not here, and I’m kind of enjoying it. I keep telling everybody that it all depends on what Tommy wants,” she said.

Based on her consultations, she intends to submit to the mayor a report on the needs of the villages when he gets back from his medical leave next week.

“I’ll make my own plans just to see how I can help them... They’re all moving, all the requests they need from City Hall are being acted on,” Minnie said.

Businessman Jonathan Guardo said Minnie’s consultations with the barangay captains and hints of her candidacy for mayor would create another tension within the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Invite

He said that they have always doubted the mayor’s pronouncements that Rama will be the party’s standard bearer.

He said it would be better for Rama to jump ship now.

“We always understated that, the mayorship is really reserved for an Osmeña. We believe that Mike will eventually be eased out, so it’s up to Mike now if he will really stay with BOPK or form his own party... The move will create another tension in their party, and there will be uneasiness again in the Rama camp,” Guardo said.

Quiot Barangay Captain Vicente Ramos said they will fully support Minnie if she decides to run for congresswoman or mayor, but he and his councilors are convinced it will be the latter.

“She said it’s the mayor who will confirm it, pero para namo padung na gyud na siya (Minnie) magmayor. Naa man gyu’y consultations ang mga barangay captains and nagpabilin man gihapong negatibo sila ni Mike, ganahan gyud ang mga kapitan na Osmeña ang mudagan,” Ramos added.