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Monday, May 17, 2004
Sonny Osmeņa lands 15th in city
CEBU CITY -- Shortly after he was proclaimed winner along with his slate Sunday, re-elected Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeņa said his cousin, Sen. John Henry Osmeņa, should have realized by now that the Cebuanos no longer love him.
That, as the mayor promised a "solid growth" for the City and basic services to all barangays, even to those where he lost.
Senator Osmeņa was not in the top 12 in Cebu City and in the ongoing national tally, where he placed 15th.
In the 1998 senatorial elections, the senator placed 17th. In his 40 years in public service, the senator never tasted defeat.
Sonny and Mayor Tommy have been at odds with each other for years now.
Tommy accused Sonny of being anti-Cebuano for failing to support pro-Cebuano measures and Cebuano candidates.
The senator, on the other hand, accused the mayor of corruption, the most recent of which was on Tommy's alleged taking cuts on the South Reclamation Project.
But Sunday, Tommy did not mince words in downplaying Sonny's chances of getting another mandate as senator.
"He has to realize our constituents rejected him. He rightfully deserves this. I have no sympathy. He should learn to serve the Cebuanos and not vice-versa. I'm embarrassed by his behavior," Tommy said.
He predicted Sonny's loss in the elections "should put an end to his career" after becoming "too swell-headed".
But he was kind to Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera, City Council candidate of the rival party, and shook hands with him.
Garganera, after all the votes for the north district were counted, approached the winning Bando Osmeņa-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) candidates, including Tommy, around 2 p.m. Sunday and offered his hands to congratulate them.
After Garganera left, only two Kugi Uswag Sugbo (Kusug) paralegal counsels were left in the canvassing area. The canvassing of five remaining ballot boxes from the south district proceeded without any Kusug watchers.
Tommy promised a "solid, sustainable growth" and on "laying down a solid foundation for the future".
"There is no doubt in my mind with his kind of teamwork Cebu will stand above all the others," he said.
Asked about reported incentives he was preparing for barangays where he won, he said all barangays will get the "minimum amount of basic services" City Hall will give.
And although "everybody will get their share," he admitted those barangays where he won will be more to his favor. RHM
(May 17, 2004 issue)
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