Saturday, January 20, 2007 Account for SEA Games funds, Mayor Osmeña reminds Guardo
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday reminded businessman and sports patron Jonathan Guardo to account for the funds used in the 2005 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Praised by many for the successful international event, Guardo was the Cebu City Sports Commission chairman before Osmeña, who appointed him to the post, started criticizing him.
In a press conference yesterday, the mayor said Guardo will all the more refuse to give full accounting of the money if elected. He made the statement when asked about Guardo’s chances against his ally, Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south) in the elections this May.
“I’m reminding the people that he is running for congressman. Samot gyud nga dili siya mu-account,” he said.
Old issues
In a separate interview, Guardo said the mayor is simply reviving old issues that he already answered
He said that as Cebu SEA Games organizing committee (Cebu-SOC) chairman, he has liquidated all expenses before the Philippine Sea Games Organizing Committee, which cleared him of any obligations.
“Gitabangan na man ko ani (They are ganging up on me). But this is part of the electoral gymnastics. We are up against an established organization, the BOPK (Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan), so I expect brickbats to come my way,” he said.
Osmeña also said that while Guardo may have promised to pour in money, he is confident the Cebuanos will accept what he will give but will always vote for their chosen candidates.
Although he did not categorically say that Guardo will buy votes during the elections, he said the sportsman is pouring in a lot of money for his candidacy.
But Guardo said it is Osmeña’s camp that spread such rumors to discredit him. He said it was BOPK that doled out money through donations to chapels and various organizations.
‘A lot better’
When told that Jose “Dodong” Gullas is being considered as his challenger in the elections, Osmeña said that at least Dodong is “a lot better than his brother.”
He was referring to Rep. Eduardo “Eddie” Gullas (Cebu, 1st district), whom he labeled as land grabber and credit grabber for saying that a portion of the South Road Properties encroached into Talisay City’s territory.
Osmeña said he welcomes it if Dodong will run against him. It will be “healthy” for the city if they have a choice, he said. (RHM)
