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It?s a win-win situation likened to hitting the sweepstakes.
This was how a pro-administration barangay captain described the new developments in Cebu City politics that will see the city?s first lady, Margot Osmeña, entering the political arena for the first time.
Also lauded was Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Rep. Tony Cuenco of Cebu City south district for possibly settling a feud that had divided the administration Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan(BO-PK).
Barangay captains allied with BO-PK in both the north and south districts would have wanted Margot Osmeña to run for mayor.
But they were still happy that she has set herself to run for councilor in the south district to complete the BO-PK slate in the south.
The BO-PK?s accommodation of Ronald Cuenco, a former councilor and Tony?s son, is another welcome development for some barangay captains especially in the south district becuse it might pave way for a reconciliation between the two conflicting personalities of BO-PK.
?Mura mi og nakadaog ug sweepstake (We feel like we won the sweepstakes),? said Quiot barangay captain Vicente Ramos.
He said the move will make BO-PK much stronger than the opposition party led by businessman Jonathan Guardo.
Tony Cuneco yesterday raised hints of a possible mending of political fences with Tomas.
When asked about his future relations with the mayor, Tony said: ?I think there is a possibility of reconciliation. Mag huwat lang ko (I will just wait),? Cuenco told .
?Musamot na gyud og kalig-on ang BO-PK samot nga nadala na nila si Ronald (BO-PK will be stronger especially that they have Ronald). This is the road to reconciliation,? Ramos told CEBU DAILY NEWS.
Sto. Niño barangay captain Pancho Ramirez Sr. said there was no longer a need for them to push for their manifesto that asked Tomas to endorse Margot as successor instead of backing the tandem of Vice Mayor Michael Rama and the city?s Education Consultant Joy Augustus Young.
Ramirez was among the north district barangay captains who asked the mayor to reconsider his decision to back Rama as BO-PK?s mayoral candidate in 2010 elections.
Ramirez said they understood the mayor's decision to stand by Rama and were now more comfortable with the announcement that Margot will run for a city council seat in the south district.
?Dili nalang mi mosupak kay si Vice Mayor Rama man gyud ang iyaha. But at least naa na gyud tingog ang south sa city council (with Margot in the council). Unya maayo sad na kay naay maduolan ang mga kapitan (We will no longer go against the mayor?s decision because he really wants Vice Mayor Rama. Also, we are glad the south district will now have a voice in the city council. It?s also good that barangay captains will now have someone to go to),? Ramirez said.
Ramos said he also understood that Rama being from the south district was one of the factors why the mayor won in the hotly contested 2001 election against former mayor Alvin Garcia.
?Dako gyud ang natabang sa mga Rama sa south. Dako ug lead si Mayor Tom sa Basak San Nicolas ato (The Rama family helped a lot in the south. Mayor Tom had a wide lead in Basak San Nicolas),? Ramos recalled.
But the opposition believed that the inclusion of Ronald in the BO-PK south district slate was only meant to get more votes for the administration party.
?They included Ronald to ensure that their BO-PK will not only preserve its votes in the south but will have those from the supporters of Congressman Cuenco,? opposition barangay captain Edgar Lauron of Basak San Nicolas Proper said in Cebuano.
But Tomas said he never had any problems with Ronald when the latter was a councilor. It was only when the mayor had a falling out with Tony when they had problems accommodating Ronald in the party.
?I have no problems with Ronald when he was with us before. We got along well. But it was very hard for us to accommodate him until his father made an announcement that he would not get involved in the local politics. I gave a go signal. That's the younger generation who will take over,? Tomas said.
He added he never had problems getting votes from the south district.
?Do you think it?s a crime to get every vote? I'm not selling any of my principles. I did not tell him (Congressman Cuenco) not to run. I did not do that,? Osmeña said.
But Guardo said the mayor may have been desperate becuase he was tapping former foes in his party.
?One thing is sure, (Lahug Barangay Captain) Mary Ann (delos Santos) and I will run for Congress. (I know Mayor Osmeña is asking help) by consolidating former foes, but I'm confident of my chances. (Our) mayoral and vice (mayoral tandem) is still up for grabs,? Guardo said.
?The general perception is that nagpatabang gyud siya (Osmeña asked for help). He's spending left and right. He's campaigning now (even if it is not yet) campaign period. If that?s not panicking, I don't know how you call it,? he added.
When sought for comment, Tony Cuenco said he did not want to get involved in Cebu City politics and that he did not prohibit his son from joining the BO-PK south district slate.
?I was not being consulted about it and I just learned about it in the newspapers this morning. I have already decided not to run for mayor. I have informed my family and the barangay captains about it,? he added.
He said he did not want to run for mayor because he considered Rama as a close ally.
Tony also said he did not want to put the south district barangay captains in a middle of a political contest by choosing who between their two key allies they would support.
?The barangay captains will have a problem kay maipit sila (because they will be caught in the middle). Dili ko gusto mabibingka sila. I don't like them to have that problem. Mag neutral nalang ko karon kay gubot na kayo (I will stay neutral because it is messy enough at it is). Naa na si Sonny (former Sen. John Henry Osmeña), si Alvin (Garcia), Georgia (Osmeña). Guardo is also a friend of mine,? Cuenco said.
Cuenco was referring to reports that former senator Osmeña, Garcia and Mayor Osmeña?s sister, Georgia, were also eyeing the city?s mayoral seat.
Green cards not a hindrance to Margot O., Cuenco?s bids
BOTH Margot Osmeña and Ronald Cuenco can still run for councilor in the Cebu City's south district but they have to surrender their Green Cards.
Cebu City South District Election Officer Edwin Cadungog said even if they have Green Cards they are still both Filipino citizens and can run in any elected government position with the condition that they give it up before they file their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) before the Commission on Election (Comelec).
?They should surrender it sa embassy. It must be surrendered before the filing of their COCs. Ang ato pagka Filipino dili man na mawala (Our being Filipino won't be lost),? Cadungog said.
A Green Card also known as a Permanent Resident Card is a proof that the person has a permanent resident status in the United States (US) and has the right to live and work permanently in the US. It also means that the person is registered citizen of the US according to the US Immigration website.
But Cadungog explained that the Filipino citizenship does not get lost if the person is absent within the city or municipality if the reason of absence is because of work, and business among others.
