Home 
TWO top opposition figures raised the possibility of gunning for the top posts in Cebu City despite their preparations to contest the city's north and south congressional districts.
Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann delos Santos and businessman Jonathan Guardo floated the possibility of running for mayor and vice mayor during the launching of the “Our Cebu” campaign at the Grand Convention Center.
Delos Santos lost to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña in 2007.
Osmeña brushed aside the announcement of the two opposition leaders, saying it was a mere “moneymaking scheme” on their part.
Delos Santos said the “Our” stands for Opportunity, Unity and Reform.
“We are launching our advocacy, an advocacy for new politics, advocacy of change, and an advocacy of new flock entering the political arena,” she said.
Their OUR Cebu City campaign was in response to the “MY CT” campaign of the administration Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK). “MY CT” stands for “Mike-Young” and “Cutie-Tomas.”
Guardo said they would like to continue their consultations in universities, barangays and with civic groups to determine whether there is a public clamor for them to run for the top two executive posts.
“We will go there as congressional candidates. But if there is strong clamor (for us to run), then yes, we will run for mayor and vice mayor. We are not closing our doors to that possibility,” Guardo said.
He said if he and Delos Santos combined the 70,000 votes they each received in the 2007 elections, there was a good chance for them to win in next year's elections.
Guardo ran but lost to outgoing Cebu City South Dist. Rep. Antonio Cuenco.
Guardo said former mayor Alvin Garcia will play a vital part in their campaign but declined to name their prospective candidates for council.
Aside from Vice Mayor Michael Rama, the mayor's sister Georgia and former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña also signified their intention to run for mayor.
Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS) chairman Winston Garcia was said to be gunning for the post.
Mayor Osmeña said he didn't see any public clamor for Delos Santos and Guardo to run for mayor and vice mayor.
“Oh, there is a clamor for it. I am clamoring for it. Run for mayor and vice mayor please. Tell them the clamor is from me. It's a money making venture I dont know,” he told a press conference.
He said he believed the two merely wanted a share of the money that will be poured in from the political machineries of the national candidates by filling up the mayor and vice mayor slots in their slate.
“There is money from Sen. Manuel Villar, billions of pesos. There is money with the administration, probably billions also. And there is money with Noynoy maybe P2 million,” the mayor said in jest.
“You have to project yourself as a marketable commodity that you have the machinery. How can they project themselves if they have the machinery they don't even have a candidate for mayor or vice mayor,” he added.
