Nalzaro: Tomas is not a franchise-holder of Cebu

Monday, January 30, 2012

THE cat is finally out of the bag, so to speak.  Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña finally ends speculations on his interest in regaining control of City Hall. He formally announced over the weekend his intention to run for mayor again in the 2013 elections against incumbent Mayor Michael Rama. Tomas said he will make sure that he can defeat Rama. He even bragged that he will give Mike a hard time in getting his runningmate and his lineup for the City Council.

This kind of statement only shows that Tomas is sobrang bilib sa sarili. He thinks that he is the political franchise-holder of Cebu City. His statement is sending a strong signal to his political opponents that no one can politically fight him. For me, this is arrogance to the highest degree. As if he is God Almighty in this part of the country.  

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He said that if Mike cannot get a good lineup, the tendency is that the mayor will run as an independent candidate. And if Mike does that, he will surely lose because nobody will contribute to his campaign funds. I think Tomas should be reminded of the Biblical story on how a little boy named David defeated and killed the giant Goliath by just using a sling.

True, Tomas had controlled the political landscape in the city for almost two decades.

And he has not suffered a defeat. But he is not that formidable. It just so happened that his previous opponents didn’t have huge funding to counter his political strategies. He almost lost in their first encounter with former mayor Alvin Garcia. If not because of his last-ditch strategy by pouring out more money, he could have been defeated by Alvin. Tomas could not claim that he was undefeated because the Cebuanos loved him. No. It is because of his doleouts.

If Tomas and Mike will face each other in the 2013 elections, it will be determined on the basis of election campaign funds and organization. Mike is so popular among the masses. He is very approachable by the ordinary people, unlike Tomas who is very strict and arrogant. He can crack jokes with the masses. He can sing, he can dance.

Tomas does not possess these qualities.

Those businessmen who are anti-Tomas will surely contribute to Mike’s campaign funds.

Tomas has SM Prime Holdings and Filinvest as his big benefactors. Maybe, these companies will also give Mike funding, but only peanuts. So, Mike has to look for other financiers that can bankroll his candidacy. Let’s admit that politicians got their funding from outside sources and not from their own pocket. And please don’t ask what will be the return once they win.

Mike has to double his effort in organizing barangay-based organizations to counter Tomas’s well-entrenched Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK). But I understand there is already a ground of barangay officials called ‘The Barkada’ who is working for him in the barangay level. Mike can have the support from anti-Tomas barangay captains.

And there are many of them. He will also look for qualified candidates for the two congressional districts that will carry his campaign, not just token candidates.

True, Mike has a lot of work to do so he can match Tomas’s political stock. But any election in our country is unpredictable and no one knows if the people will just vote on the basis of performance, qualifications, qualities, integrity and the dedication of the candidates to serve. Just consider this: Grace Padaca, a former broadcaster, at one time, defeated the Dy’s who controlled the political landscape in Isabela Province for several decades. Fr. Panlilio defeated Pineda, a known jueteng lord in Pampanga.

The Abineses were wiped out by newcomer politicians in Cebu’s second district. Ayaw palabi ug panghambog Cong. Tomas sa imong pagkagamhanan. Kung ang taga-Bohol pay pasultihon: “Ninja ray mopatay ninjo.”

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By the way, Tomas is a legislator, but you see he is supporting the foolishness of Councilor Augustus Pe Jr., who is planning to run in the south district in 2013 when his term as councilor in the north district expires. Tomas should be reminded that the plan of Jun Pe is very questionable. He is a legislator and he should advise and discourage his political lapdog not to pursue his plan. I know that a legal issue will be put to the test once Jun Pe files his certificate of candidacy. But Jun Pe should have the delicadeza not to pursue his plan. Hakog gyud sa gahum.

(bobby,nalzaro@yahoo.com)