Thursday, May 17, 2007 Tomas to give Lahug projects
IF CEBU City mayoral candidate Mary Ann de los Santos does not want to be an “obstructionist,” she should refrain from questioning the legality and the City’s ownership of the South Road Properties (SRP), the mayor said.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday thanked de los Santos for gracefully accepting her defeat, but added that her actions should speak louder than her words if she sincerely wants to support his administration.
“I’ll just be nice and say thank you. But you should remember that if you’re a barangay official and aspiring to become mayor, anyone is entitled to question your motives,” Osmeña said.
De los Santos, also Lahug barangay captain, already conceded to Osmeña even before the city-level canvassing of votes could begin last Tuesday.
She assured the Osmeña administration of her full support and vowed that she will not be an obstructionist in any project, “as long as it will redound to the benefit of the Cebu City constituents.”
“But words are easy, actions are different. It’s all words, where is the substance? She keeps saying we did not give projects to her barangay, but I was willing to give up our biggest single disposable asset mostly for Lahug residents, but it doesn’t mean anything to her,” said the mayor.
Osmeña was referring to the P400-million North Reclamation Area property that the City was supposed to swap with Capitol for the Province-owned lots in Lahug and 10 other barangays that have illegal occupants.
For the mayor, the case filed by de los Santos’ allies against city officials, questioning the ownership of the SRP, is tantamount to obstructing the development of the city.
Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera, a known ally of de los Santos, filed the case against Osmeña and the City Council and asked the court to prohibit them from selling, leasing and marketing the SRP.
“Obviously, that’s being an obstructionist. She kept saying the reclamation project is illegal. That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard,” Osmeña said.
Despite the issues de los Santos and Tribu Guardo raised against BOPK candidates and the SRP, the mayor said he will continue to give Lahug projects, as he has done so in the past.
Aside from the aborted land swap deal, he also cited the P11-million bridge and the asphalting of roads in Beverly Hills as among the projects City Hall gave Lahug.
“You don’t make political decisions based on that. Just because they’re against you, you don’t give them projects. It’s always a case-to-case basis, depending on the need that arises,” he said.
Meanwhile, congressional candidate for the south district Jonathan Guardo said he will not concede to Rep. Antonio Cuenco until the canvassing is over.
He admitted, though, that Cuenco is already leading in the congressional race, according to partial and official results of the canvassing.
“Kung pildi, I’m willing to concede but I’ll wait for the results na lang. Right now, we’re focusing on the canvassing and on guarding our votes. I know that Cuenco is leading but I want to wait for the results, especially in the council race,” Guardo added. (LCR)
