THOUGH she refused to comment, Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz’s (Cebu Province, sixth district) chief of staff confirmed an ongoing negotiation between her and former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña.

Lawyer Gonzalo Malig-on said that Ruiz and former political ally Osmeña are talking to reach the “best solution” on her family’s ancestral home in Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City if she fails to pay her debt to him.

“It is best for us not to issue a word on the issue because it might jeopardize the ongoing negotiation. Makabuhi unya mi og pulong nga masakitan ang pikas (We might utter words that will slight the other party),” he told reporters.

Osmeña had claimed that the property has already been titled in his name and that Ruiz has until Feb. 15, 2009 to redeem it.

The house was held as collateral for an P8-million loan with a local bank, for use in Ruiz’s campaign in her failed mayoral bid against Thadeo Ouano in 1998.

In 2001, Osmeña offered to pay for the loan on condition that she would run for a seat in Congress, which she did and won.

The political alliance, however, soured before the 2004 elections, when Osmeña accused Ruiz of not supporting his Senate reelection bid.

The debt has soared to P47 million, including penalties and interest charges.

Malig-on said the best that happened on the issue is that both parties have manifested the willingness to negotiate.

“Pasagdan lang usa nato ang (Let us just leave alone the) negotiation; but definitely this problem will not grow worse,” he said. (AIV)

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