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Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Ban on Sonny complicates Lakas campaign
By Linette C. Ramos
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s conflict with his cousin, Lakas guest candidate Sen. John “Sonny” Osmeña, is causing hitches in the party’s plans for campaign activities here.
The mayor said that organizers of the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats’ (Lakas-CMD) political rally in Cebu City are having difficulty because of his policy that senator cannot campaign on stage.
“They are already preparing the schedule but my stand is creating a conflict among the planners in Manila, because I made it very clear that Sonny cannot go up to the stage to speak. It’s putting them into a bit of difficulty,” Osmeña told a news conference.
In Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan’s (BO-PK) sample ballots, the mayor said they will also write that their party is rejecting the senator because “he is anti-Cebuano and anti-local government.”
Osmeña said he will remain firm in his stand and that he will not campaign for the
senator.
“I will not allow him to go on the stage, unless the Lakas slate want to rally on their own. I cannot in conscience support somebody who is anti-Cebuano,” he added.
The City Government has not yet identified places where political rallies can be held, but City Administrator Juan Saul Montecillo said that the areas will be regulated.
Representatives of national parties will have to secure permits from the mayor’s office for any political rally that will be held in public places within the city.
“When there is a political rally in a public place, they first have to apply for a permit and we will act accordingly. There has to be coordination with other departments for crowd and traffic control,” Montecillo told Sun.Star.
Cebu City Election Officer Simaco Labata reiterated yesterday that all candidates must inform the local Commission on Elections office before any rally can be held.
(February 11, 2004 issue)
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