SOME will remember him for his sharp tongue and his quick temper, but they also remember him for his kindness, hard work and the discipline he instilled in people he worked with.
Former Cebu City councilor Rogelio “Jingjing” Osmeña Sr. has long retired from politics, yet he continued to make himself available to the City Government to improve the traffic situation and the professionalism in the city’s police force.
At his wake at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes yesterday noon, his children, brothers, relatives, colleagues and friends mourned his death. They also recalled the meaningful life that he lived.
Former vice mayor Renato “Nato” Osmeña said they have lost a kind-hearted brother, the youngest of four siblings, while the City lost a good public servant.
“It may sound self-serving but Jingjing has really done a lot for the city, especially when it came to traffic and the discipline and marksmanship of the police. He had a very sharp tongue but he was very kind-hearted. You’ll see him as a strict man but deep inside, he was very kind,” an emotional Nato said.
Allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), Jingjing served as north district councilor from July 1995 to June 2001, and chaired the council’s committee on police, fire, penology and public safety.
He ran for a third term in 2001 under the opposition Kugi Uswag Sugbo, but lost.
During his term, he authored at least 87 ordinances and numerous resolutions, most of which were related to traffic and road safety, including the ordinance against smoke belching.
Jingjing also served as chairman of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) board before he was elected councilor, and as board member during his term in the council.
In 2004, he was appointed regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7, which earned him a seat as a member of the Citom board. He was subsequently appointed acting chairman and presiding officer by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
He was also president of the Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association, where he facilitated the firearms proficiency training of the city’s police.
“Half of his life was dedicated to addressing our traffic concerns. His two passions in life were traffic and firearms. If he was not talking about traffic, he talked about training our cops in firearms proficiency. He even spent his personal money for it. Mao nang pinangga na siya sa mga pulis (That’s why the police force is very fond of him),” said Citom executive director Arnel Tancinco.
Even those whom Jingjing berated continued to support him in his programs, he said.
“Tanang tawo sa Citom niagi na sa iyang pangasaba ug pamalikas pero love kaayo na siya sa mga tawo tungod sa iyang dedication (He has scolded and cussed at every one in Citom, but we all loved him because of his dedication),” Tancinco continued.
As an uncle, Jingjing was always ready and willing to help his nephews and nieces, who treated him as their “barkada.”
Councilor Richard Osmeña, son of Renato, said that Jingjing shared their interests and did not act authoritative when he was around them.
“Dali gyud na siya duolon for anything. Pareha na sila ni Tommy, strikto pero naa’y punto (We could easily approach him for anything. He was just like the mayor; he was strict but he had a point),” he said.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador Jr. said that Jingjing was very supportive of the police force, especially in polishing the shooting skills of every police officer.
In the Citom board, Comendador said, Osmeña was the “most candid and critical member of the group and often frustrated with how the bureaucracy works.”
“I found his ideas very pragmatic, and his passing is a great loss to the city,” he said. (LCR/With JTG)