CEBU. (From left) Serge Osmeña, Tomas Osmeña, and Sonny Osmeña. (File photos)
CEBU. (From left) Serge Osmeña, Tomas Osmeña, and Sonny Osmeña. (File photos)

Bzzzzz: Three Osmeñas, all huge figures in politics, lost the elections. A close blood relative planned to endorse Tomas's rival but was dissuaded

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Fall of three Osmeñas

Few noticed, amid the excitement and confusion over the election results, that three "giants" in politics from the Osmeña clan lost last May 13.

Attention has been focused mostly on Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña's defeat, which was the stellar attraction, the big event to Cebuanos.

Little attention from the media or the public was given to this: another Osmeña, Toledo City Mayor John "Sonny" Osmeña also lost, in his bid for congressman of Cebu's third district, to One Cebu's Pablo John Garcia.

And many Cebuanos fussed more over the victory of Imee Marcos, Bong Go and Bato de la Rosa than on the fate of a third Osmeña, Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III. Serge had "scored" two losses in a row, in 2010 and 2019, in his efforts to return to the Senate after having served it for 18 years.

Tomas's loss, the nearest and most visible to the Cebu public, was stunning. Taken together with the defeat of two other Osmeñas, the events are earth-shaking.

Tomas still has the BOPK-controlled City Council to be busy about in the next three years. And Sonny may have the Toledo City Hall to be interested in as elder adviser, that is, if his anointed mayor and vice mayor will be proclaimed winners. (See top item above).

Aborted endorsement

And who was that close blood relative of the Osmeñas who seriously wanted to endorse Edgar Labella but didn't at the last minute? That relative would've reaped headlines for going to the Tomas Osmeña lead enemy a few days before election day.

The Osmeña kin was already on the verge of arranging a press-con, which didn't come.

Wouldn't have been as stunning as the NQ public rejection of his grandson Luigi -- but still very much newsworthy in the campaign homestretch.

***

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