Osmeña wants immediate settlement to "Mess Cebu"

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña wants the mix-up of the announcement of the winner of the Globe Texter’s Choice Award during the recent Miss Cebu to be finally settled.

 “Maoy gusto ni mayor Osmeña nga duna g’yoy drastic action nga himoon ang mga opisyal sa syudad,” said city administrator Francisco Fernandez, who is always in contact with the mayor who is still in Houston, Texas.

But Fernandez said it is up to the Cebu City Tourism Commission to decide on whether to grant or deny the appeal of the family of contestant Kimberly Therese Burden.

Osmeña earlier told The FREEMAN that he does not want city officials to spend so much time about this issue because more important ones need their attention such as the urban poor problems and dengue.

Members of the CCTC now headed by acting Vice Mayor Hilario Davide III held a meeting last night but no decision was announced.

The Burden family asked CCTC commissioner Philipp Rodriguez to be dropped as one of its members and for sanctions against other CCTC staff whom they held responsible for the controversy.

 “Aw ila na man nga gipahibalo nga kadto si Bruce Bollozos nga maoy marketing consultant sa Miss Cebu beauty pageant dili na nila paapilon sa bisan unsa nga susamang kalihukan, wala na tay mahimo niya,” said Kimberly’s mother, Rowena.

The issue started after Bollozos gave wrong information that it was Kris Tiffany Janson who won the Texter’s Choice Award and not Burden, although the 19-year-old Burden got the highest number of votes.

Bollozos already apologized for his actions, claiming what had happened was an honest mistake, but the Burden family refused to believe his claim.

Janson was crowned Miss Cebu 2009 last January 14. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)