Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Malilong: Tony and Tommy By Frank Malilong The Other Side
COULD Tony Cuenco end up sharing the same political bed with the man he beat last May? Or should the question be where to, Tony?
They’re not admitting it publicly but sources very close to the two political leaders confirm the brewing rift between the Cebu City south congressman and Mayor Tommy Osmeña. In fact, according to my source, Tommy has on many occasions told those who invite him to a function that he would attend only if Tony is not there.
A Cebu City official traced the root of the falling-out to the last barangay elections when the third-term congressman vanished from the scene, leaving the mayor alone to attend to the problems of BO-PK candidates. “Tommy didn’t expect Tony to abandon him especially after how he helped the latter win re-election,” he said.
He recalled how Tommy practically abandoned his own campaign in the last elections to concentrate in the south district where Tony faced a strong challenge from political upstart Jonathan Guardo. “He had been doing that for the Cuencos in many past elections, first against Koko Holganza and then against Totol Batuhan.” Now, he said, Osmeña would not even endorse Cuenco’s supposed bid to be named ambassador after his term ends in 2010.
Common friends are frantically trying to bring about a reconciliation between the two but, said my source, Osmeña has been adamant. “He feels that he is the aggrieved party. Tony should work a little harder if he wants to gain back Tommy’s friendship,” he added.
Cuenco is on his last term again. The first time he “graduated” from Congress, he made his wife, Nancy, sub for him until he was qualified to run again. Nancy trailed Koko Holganza in the pre-election surveys but managed to eke out a slim victory, thanks mainly to Osmeña’s help.
There are no indications as to who Cuenco would like to succeed him in 2010 but, unless Osmeña forgives him, his choice might not count much in the BO-PK whose members are loyal to the mayor.
Moreover, there are so many City Council members from the south who face a dead end to their careers because they have reached their term limits and who consider themselves ripe for Congress. Tommy could narrow his choice among them.
So where would that place Tony? If there is anything a politician will find very hard to accept, it is that he has become irrelevant. Cuenco is no exception. He won’t sail quietly into the sunset and on his own accord.
If Tommy continues to reject him, is it “Guardo, here I come” for Cebu’s consummate politician?
