Saturday, June 16, 2007 Gwen, asked by Tomas to leave city: ‘Di ko oy!’
THE Capitol building is in Cebu City because the law says so, Congressman-elect Pablo John Garcia said after Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s public statements that they’d better transfer the Capitol somewhere else.
“This is getting to be an old refrain but again, Tomas should consult his lawyers before he opens his mouth. It is in the Administrative Code that the official residence of the governor and the seat of government of the Province of Cebu should be in the City of Cebu,” said Pablo John.
Osmeña has also said in a radio report that members of the Garcia family—whom, according to him, “insulted the mayor”—had better move their residences out of Cebu City. He pointed out that Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, her brothers Pablo John and Winston and even their father, Congressman-elect Pablo Garcia, live in Cebu City.
On this, Pablo John said that Osmeña should ask Cebu City Reps. Raul del Mar and Antonio Cuenco to sponsor an amendment to Cebu City’s Charter to “empower the mayor to evict anyone who disagrees with him.”
“But then, that might cause a mass exodus considering the hundreds of thousands who voted against him in the last elections,” said Pablo John.
Gwendolyn, for her part, also said she will not move out.
“Di ko uy. Is he serious? If he is, then we’re in serious trouble because I think he is beginning to believe that he owns Cebu City. Besides, I like living in Cebu City where the people are not arrogant, not vindictive and not intoxicated with power, I mean. They’re totally likeable and loveable, unlike some people we know,” she said.
Difference
Osmeña had also accused the Garcias of working against the interest of Cebu City, but Pablo John said he is advising the mayor to “learn to distinguish” between the interests of Cebu City and his own interests.
The Capitol has pledged to talk directly with the 93-1 lot occupants and promised there will be no eviction until a solution to the problem is arrived at, added Pablo John.
Osmeña and the Capitol officials have been trading barbs since the negotiations for an exchange of properties failed early this year.
The conflict, which started with the planned eviction of thousands of families who failed to pay for the lots they are occupying, spread to other matters like the City’s decision not to issue permits to an international consortium that wants to build a P1.2-billion development on a Capitol property in Banilad, Cebu City.
The conflict has also extended to Fuente Osmeña in midtown Cebu City, which the Capitol now wants to exercise its rights as owner.
But without a court order, Capitol’s written notices for a takeover of Province-owned properties in Cebu City will not have any effect, Osmeña said yesterday.
Message
Osmeña already gave instructions for the Fuente Police Station to look after the Fuente Osmeña circle, after the Capitol sent the City a notice that they will take over the property soon.
The instructions were meant as a message to Capitol officials that they can’t do to Fuente Osmeña circle what they did to the road near Chong Hua Hospital, which the Province closed last year, said the mayor.
“It’s just sending a message because of the manner by which they closed down the road beside the Larsian barbecue stalls.
They just barged in their and closed the road unceremoniously. And recently, they went to the city zoo and told everybody to get out,” he told a news conference yesterday.
“Their order has no effect, they’re not the court. The zoo won’t be turned over without a court order. Let them challenge everything in court, and I have the guidance of several lawyers and I’m right when I said they need a court order,” Osmeña continued.
He also dispelled speculations that he is planning to run for governor in 2010, which surfaced after he proposed to make Cebu City part of the Province so that city residents can vote for the governor and other provincial officials again.
‘You move’
“I’m getting bored already beating all the Garcias in the elections, wala na’y thrill. It’s been three elections… They’re clearly avoiding the issue. I am just concerned with what’s good for Cebu,” Osmeña said.
Former mayor Alvin Garcia, the governor’s first cousin, ran for mayor in 2001 and 2004 but lost to Osmeña in both elections.
Alvin’s son, Raymond, ran for vice mayor in this year’s election, but lost to Osmeña’s running mate, Vice Mayor Michael Rama.
The mayor also threw back to Governor Garcia her earlier suggestion that he transfer his residence to Talisay City if he wants to be able to vote or run for governor.
Instead of building a house in Maria Luisa Estate Park in Barangay Banilad in Cebu City, she should build her house in Talisay, Osmeña said.
“Why don’t they move to Talisay? They’re telling the mayor to transfer out of Cebu City, that’s an insult. I’m the mayor here, I was elected here so they should be the one to move out. She (Gwen) keeps insulting the City but she’s building a house in Maria Luisa,” he added. (JPM/With LCR)
