Friday, April 04, 2008 Rama told: Make a stand v. Tomas
MANDAUE City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna challenged Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama to speak out about the “insulting” statements Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña made about the fire that destroyed the Catholic church in Oslob.
Fortuna, representing the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP), joined four other league leaders in demanding an apology from Osmeña.
A fire leveled the Immaculate Conception Parish in Oslob town last March 26.
The mayor said Cebu City will donate a fire extinguisher to the town’s fire station. From his own pocket, he will donate a pail, Osmeña had said.
“I hope we can hear how Mike feels,” Fortuna told reporters.
Fortuna said Rama is part of the VMLP-Cebu Chapter, which already issued a statement against what Osmeña said.
Fortuna said this will be a test on how Rama can manage similar situations since he intends to run as national president of the VMLP.
Fortuna and Rama have expressed their intentions to run for the post.
While Fortuna had the support of the majority of the vice mayors in Cebu, he withdrew his intention to run for family reasons.
The VMLP, League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), Philippine Councilors League (PCL), Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Provincial Federation and the Provincial Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation stated in unison that Osmeña should apologize.
“Perhaps not to us but to Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren,” said Liloan Mayor Vincent “Duke” Frasco, representing the LMP.
“It was unfortunate what happened to the Church, the comments made after was uncalled for. Instead of offering constructive statements, it was really destructive,” Frasco reacted to Osmeña’s remarks.
Mayors’ support
The statements hit close to home for Frasco since as mayor, he expects other mayors to support him in times of difficulties.
“We sympathize with the loss of one of Cebu’s cultural heritage and thankful for the efforts to restore the significant historical site. However, the apparent insult against the town was truly uncalled for and a low-blow,” Fortuna said.
“The incident has no baring at all with the City of Cebu and its responsibilities,” lamented Fortuna.
Teresita Celis of the ABC agreed.
“Dili maayo nga si Mayor Osmeña nangilabot sa probinsya (It’s not good for Osmeña to meddle in the affairs of the towns),” she said.
“He’s from the city, ang governor (Gwendolyn Garcia) wala nagpabaya sa probinsya, sige lang og hatag (the governor is looking after the Province),” Celis said.
If she had her way, Celis would not accept Osmeña’s donation.
She said Osmeña needs the fire extinguisher and the pail more, especially after a fire that hit Barangay Guadalupe last January left 110 families homeless.
11 fires
Capitol consultant on information and revenue generation Rory John Sepulveda said there have been more than 11 fire incidents in the city since last year.
Sepulveda asked Osmeña if Cebu City’s fire stations can put out a fire that will hit a building more than ten storeys high.
Sepulveda asked what Osmeña did for the city fire stations that can compare to the governor’s giving out fire trucks to the towns.
Provincial Board (PB) Member and PCL President Alfredo Ouano, for his part, said he was offended by Osmeña’s remarks.
PB Member Bea Mercede Calderon, representing the SK Provincial Federation, was disappointed by Osmeña’s remarks.
Fortuna said Osmeña’s statements showed a “spillover” of the City and Capitol conflict.
“The governor can clearly handle this but we feel the pain. This does not just affect Capitol, we stand together as One Cebu,” explained Fortuna.
The leaders vowed to help rebuild the Oslob church.
Since there is separation of the Church and State, Frasco suggested helping in a personal capacity while Fortuna said there should be a community movement to raise funds to rebuild the structure. (JGA)
