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The political pot in Cebu City is boiling.
The administration Bando-Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) has finalized their line-up for 2010 elections and are expected to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) today.
The opposition party has also completed their line up except that the party has yet to decide who will be their standard bearer.
Independent candidate Georgia Osmeña yesterday filed her COC for mayor, three days after cousin and opponent, former senator John Henry ?Sonny? Osmeña filed his own COC for mayor. Whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra was the first to file his COC for mayor.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said the BO-PK candidates led by their standard bearer Vice Mayor Mike Rama and running mate Joy Augustus Young would file their COCs at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City today.
He said they had scheduled a 9 a.m. Mass but this might be postponed because his group was not in a hurry to file their COCs. ?No rush,? he said.
In the north district, BO-PK candidates for councilor include barangay captains Nida Cabrera of Barrio Luz, Alvin Arcilla of Talamban and Sisinio ?Bebs? Andales of Pahina Central. Also included in the line-up were former Sambag II barangay captain Noel Wenceslao and Alvin Dizon.
Only first lady Margot Osmeña and former councilor Ronald Cuenco, son of Rep. Antonio Cuenco of the south district, were neophytes in the south district slate for councilors.
The rest were reelectionists: they are Councilors Eduardo Rama Jr., Jose Daluz III, Roberto Cabarrubias, Richard Osmeña, Rodrigo Abellanosa and Raul Alcoseba.
But over the camp of the opposition, Kusog has yet to decide who among Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president Winston Garcia, former Metro Cebu Development Project (MCDP) 3 chief Samuel ?Sammy? Darza and former Cebu City Mayor Alvin Garcia should be the party's standard bearer.
Tinago barangay councilor Joel Garganera, was floated to run for vice mayor, said he said he would only take up the challenge if Winston would run for mayor.
But Garganera said Winston's track record for improving the economic standing of Cebu City government would make him a very qualified mayoralty candidate.
Winston, a former provincial board member, was among those involved in transforming the former airport in barangay Lahug into an information technology hub in Cebu City.
?Winston is passionate in making what Cebu City should be. He is responsible for what it (Cebu City) is right now. We should commend him for that,? Garganera said.
But Winston has yet to make up his mind due to his obligations as GSIS president.
If no decision would be made, Garganera said Kusog would availing the Dec. 14 deadline for changes in the line up.
?I have not decided yet. We will know on Dec. 14,? Winston told Cebu Daily News on a previous interview.
?I can't say I'm indispensable but this time they need strong leadership but it will take me two to three months...If only I can do both, I would. But give me time until tomorrow. The unfinished businesses with GSIS hinders me from running. I don't want to leave things hanging,?he added.
GSIS is currently in the process of transferring all their data to another database which will take the most three months to finish its.
He also has his hands full with the pending case filed by GSIS against a telephone company and Metro Pacific Group over their shares at the Meralco.
Since Winston's name was floated three weeks ago to be Kusug's standard bearer, Garganera said a lot wanted to sign up to run for councilor under their camp.
Now, he added, they have 14 people who wished to run for councilors in north district.
The group met yesterday to finalize their lineup.
But Kusog's candidates for House representatives were expected to file their COCs today following a 9 a.m. Mass at the St. Therese chapel in barangay Lahug.
They are Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann Delos Santos and businessman Jonathan Guardo who will run for representatives in the north and south districts today.
Georgia Osmeña, younger sister of Mayor Osmeña, yesterday filed her COC for mayor, along with her two candidates for councilors -- Fe Bilar, a retired public school teacher and Mariter Madrona, a physician by profession.
Her vice mayor, Emmanuel ?Manny? Pacquiao, a lawyer professor and a former councilor, filed his COC on Saturday. He was with Ramon Pandaan, Alexander Mancao, Emma Cabrera, and Jose Delgado who all wanted to run for councilors.
Georgia said they had to complete their line up since some were scared of the present administration.
?Almost (complete). But some, they say are scared of the administration and for me what are they to be scared of. It's time for them to stand up now. I don't think they will be harmed,? Georgia said.
Although her candidates for vice mayor and councilors are not known to the public, they have a lot to offer the Cebuanos.
?They are professionals. They are fresh. They have new ideas, they are not tainted...I have chosen a group of people who are professionals. Maybe I can say experts in their own field. So if I get elected as mayor they can help me,? she said.
Since she wants reform in managing the city government, these candidates will help her pursue her programs for the city.
?(It is) very important (for her councilors to win). There are issues that I want to address. I don't want to encounter ?oppositionist? who are going to be oppositionist for the sake of being an oppositionist. I would like people to help me focus on what is good for Cebu city. Even if other people from other party make it. I would like to address Cebu City as to what is good for the city and not because somebody tells them to. They (her councilorial candidates) are independent thinkers I would really need the help of the Cebuanos to help me bring my line up in,? she said.
Her line up will be completed on Dec. 1, the last day of the filing of COC.
Winston said that while he and Georgia were close friends, she and her slate must present their vision for the city.
?There is no real programs of what Cebu should be. How do you solve the problem of South Road Properties (SRP), traffic, how do you solve it if you say Cebu City is dirty. What are their plans for Cebu other than mouthing..What is their track record to be able to do this. Do they have the political will. Do they have the managerial skill,? Winston said.
Cebu City north district election officer Marchel Sarno said the Osmeña-Pacquiao tandem has six councilors but they have no party.
?If they could not support documents showing a nomination from a political party until December 1, they will be running as independent,? Sarno said. /with a report from Jhunnex Napallacan
