CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said the proposed tandem of incumbent Vice Gov. Gregorio “Greg” Sanchez and resigned Cebu City councilor Hilario “Junjun” Davide III is a “a step in the right direction.”

He said Sanchez as vice governor of Davide, who has expressed openness in running for Cebu governor, gives legitimacy to his candidacy.

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Sanchez allegedly said he might instead accept the opportunity to be Davide’s running mate, after the two-term vice governor “burned his bridges” with the One Cebu party of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

But Garcia said yesterday that she’s already confused on the various statements of Sanchez.

“I’m really confused. Kada adlaw mag-usab usab man. Naa sa newspaper ang statements niya. His statements vary as printed in the newspapers. As I’ve said, that’s his choice. This is a democracy. Everyone has a right to entertain and be entertained,” Garcia told reporters.

She also wished her “real friends” would not be used by Sanchez.

“I noticed that the name of Mariquita Salim-bangon-Yeung was dropped by Sanchez, as one who really wanted us to reconcile. I think he better check again with the person herself,” the governor added.

Garcia said that she’s not “getting that sense from my real friends and my real supporters.”

She also warned Sanchez about dropping names.

She said that Sanchez went to Yeung and Salimbangon and asked them to support him for governor despite the fact that they are her “close and true friends.”

The governor revealed that a number of mayors “have been very, very vocal about their being very disappointed in the actuations of the vice governor.”

As chairperson of One Cebu, she said they are “stronger than ever” and are having difficulties in choosing who among their members would best fit the position since a lot of them are competent, honest and willing to serve.

She will also call for a general assembly, not later than Dec. 1, and they will announce their official slate and presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, Tomas called the Davide-Sanchez tandem an “encouragement.”

“It is a step in the right direction. Little by little it provides more legitimacy to Davide’s candidacy… The important thing is timing…You start small and then get bigger,” the mayor said.

Davide resigned from the Cebu City Council last month after he was appointed Cebu Liberal Party (LP) chairman so he could concentrate on the campaign for Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and Sen. Mar Roxas.

The Panaghiusa, a group of opposition political figures of the province, has already endorsed him as candidate for governor.

The LP, though, has not formally announced yet its candidate for governor and vice governor.

Yesterday, Osmeña told a press conference that Garcia should not underestimate Cebu City just because its residents cannot vote for Province officials.

He said he expects an improvement in the way Cebu Province residents receive Davide after Christmas, when those in the city shall have visited their relatives in the province and spoken about the son of former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr.