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Even with an overwhelming endorsement from Cebu City's south district barangay captains, Cebu City first lady Margot Osmeña should seriously consider her options before deciding whether or not to run for office, the mayor's sister said yesterday.
Georgia Osmeña, who plans to run for mayor next year, said that while she's not opposing her sister-in-law's candidacy, she remains unconvinced that Margot will drop her US green card in favor of a City Council post.
Margot told CEBU DAILY NEWS that she has long surrendered her green card to the US embassy before her husband, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, got sick and only applied for a tourist visa.
“My US tourist visa was granted July 2007. Why would I be given a visa if I have a green card?,” she said.
But Georgia said Margot should think about the mayor's health, particularly his continuing treatment following his recovery from urinary bladder cancer.
She said the announcement on Margot's candidacy is all posturing on Tomas’ part.
“As his wife, she needs to be beside him especially if his condition warrants it. If anything happens to Tommy, she will have to drop everything to be at his side and that would leave the city with one less councilor. That would be unfair for Cebu City residents,” Georgia said.
The mayor announced last Saturday that his wife Margot would run as councilor under the Bando Osmeña–Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) in response to appeals from barangay captains under the party's fold.
Barangay captains belonging to the BO-PK initially asked that Margot run as mayor.
But they were appeased with Margot’s candidacy and accepted the mayor’s endorsement of Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama and Education consultant Joy Young as mayor and vice mayor.
In his podcast over at YouTube, former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña said Margot's endorsement was intended to oversee Rama’s performance as mayor in case he wins in 2010.
The mayor's endorsement of Rama was heavily contested by the barangay captains but the mayor remained by Rama’s side.
Georgia said she thinks Sonny will run for mayor but only to act as spoiler.
“That's how I see it. He is mad at Tommy because he was not consulted about the Liberal Party's decision. But he is running because he is spending money. But his real intention? I don't know,” she said.
She said she tried to contact Sonny to no avail. Georgia remained firm in her decision to run for mayor even with her cousin’s entry into the city's political landscape.
Tomas, who is on his last term as mayor, is expected to run for city's south congressional seat to be vacated by Rep. Antonio Cuenco.
Opposition congressional candidate and businessman Jonathan Guardo complained about the number of Osmeñas running for public office next year, saying it smacked of political nepotism.
