REACTING to statements of her sister-in-law, Margot Osmeña said her husband, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, is well and was the one who encouraged her to run.

Last Sunday, Georgia Osmeña, Tomas’s younger sister, said the mayor’s announcement that Margot is running for city councilor in the south district was “simple posturing” and that Margot “won’t run” at all.

Georgia also said Margot has a US green card, which she will be required to give up if she runs for public office. But Margot won’t be giving up her green card, Georgia added.

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“I gave up my green card even before Tommy got sick (and diagnosed with cancer last year). He is well and it was Tommy who encouraged me to run,” Margot said, in reply.

“Everyone knows he makes the political decisions in the BOPK (Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan),” she added.

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

During a gathering of barangay officials last Saturday, the mayor introduced Margot and Ronald Cuenco as official candidates of BOPK, completing the group’s lineup for the south district.

Osmeña said he gave the go-signal to include Ronald in their ticket after Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district) had announced that he will not involve himself in local politics.

The elder Cuenco has declined the offer of the opposition to be its candidate for mayor against incumbent Vice Mayor Michael Rama, whom Osmeña has anointed as his successor.

The announcement drew cheers from south district barangay officials, who the mayor said needed somebody they are “comfortable with” at City Hall.

Ronald, on the other hand, hoped that his inclusion in the BOP lineup will lead to the eventual healing of the rift between the mayor and his father. (RHM)