Word ward among Osmeña scions resume: Sonny O calls Tom O 'crazy'

Just like the cannons fired by the Spaniards to announce their arrival at the island of Mactan almost five centuries ago, former Senator John Henry 'Sonny' Osmeña let loose his artillery yesterday aimed at his cousin, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

The former Senator lambasted his cousin for what he called are statements that is making the people hate him. He even went to the extent of calling him as "Buang sa City Hall" (crazy man at the City Hall).

The ex-Senator was one of the guests for the 27th Kadaugan sa Mactan, which is a celebration of the victory of the tribe led by Lapu-Lapu against the invading Spanish conquistadors led by Ferdinand Magellan.

While the tirades hurled by John did not exactly leave a bloody scene, it rekindled a word war between the two scions of Cebu's foremost political clan. The two are grandchildren of the only Cebuano president of the country - Sergio Osmeña, Sr.

When asked for comment about the tirades hurled by his cousin, the city mayor said, "He is a poor loser. It's a pity that Sonny O. can no longer run for mayor. We lost the opportunity to truly become the Queen City of the South."

John, who admitted he has plans to run either as senator, Cebu governor or representative of the third district, said that his cousin wants to run for senator in the 2007 elections. The former Senator is instead urging Tomas to head to the psychiatric ward of the Makati Medical Center for the many "crazy" comments that he has made.

When asked by reporters to substantiate his claims, John cited a litany of instances.

"Pagbasa ra gud mo ug peryodiko ug basaha na ang iyang mga gipanulti, nagpataka lang. It is a nature in every man to be loved but this man, he wants to be hated. Tan-awa ra gud na ug di ba na buang?" (Why don't you read the papers and look at what he has been saying, he is out of his mind...Look at the statements, are they not crazy?) John added that one manifestation of his cousin's "craziness" was when Tomas terminated the services of the 70 Cebu City Hall employees, who were residents of Talisay, Cebu just because the mayor is angry at first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas.

"Tarong ba gud na ug utok ang mayor nga mag ing-ana? Tungod lang nga taga-Talisay ni sila, iyang gipangtaktak sa trabaho. It's a problem of sanity gyud ning iyaha," (Do you think the mayor who would do that is in his right mind? Just because they are from Talisay, he fired them...), Sonny said.

He even upped his ante when he said that he would support Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama if he would run for mayor next year.

"Kana ug naa siya'y igong kaisog nga makig kontra. But me, I will support anyone except Tomas," (Thai is if he [Rama] has the courage to oppose the mayor...), the ex-senator said.

John is also urging all barangay captains in the city, who according to him are not receiving any financial assistance from Tomas, to go against the mayor.

"Sukli na ninyo si Tomas. Unsa may ilang kahadlukan nga si Tomas wa man nay na tabang nila," (You oppose Tomas. What are these people scared of when he has not helped them.), John said just few minutes before he shook hands with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who also graced the affair.

The former Senator was in the k-4 slate of the administration in the 2004 elections, but failed to make it.

He said that he is now siding with the opposition again, but added he is not supporting the call for the President to step down despite the prodding of the other members of the opposition.

He said that Senate President Franklin Drilon and former Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta told him last week to support their call for Arroyo to step down, but he declined to do so saying that it is too early to do so and suggests that they just wait for the outcome of the efforts to amend the Constitution.