Tomas: Capitol can't "fool" Cebuanos

CEBU, Philippines - “The province can’t fool the Cebuanos.”

This was the reaction of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to the recent pronouncement of Third District Representative Pablo John Garcia that the controversial Balili deal is “better and cleaner” than the equally controversial Joint Venture Agreement between the city and Filinvest Land Inc.

"He thinks Cebuanos are stupid. Let the people decide if it’s better or not. Mopalit kag yuta ilawom sa dagat is better? Ang transaction sa SRP, nakadawat ang syudad ug kwarta…mas maayo na lang ato ilabay og balik ang kwarta sa mga tawo kaysa ilabay sa dagat. That’s better. That just shows (you) the kind of Congressman he is," Osmeña said.

Osmeña also described as a “desperate move” the press conference that the province organized today to discuss the purchase of the Balili property.

"That’s why SRP has another meaning– Suya Ra ang Probinsya. I am not the originator of that," Osmeña said in jest.

Garcia recently said there was nothing illegal or irregular about the Capitol’s purchase of the 24.7-hectare Balili property in Naga City because it was done “in good faith.”

He said the titles acquired by Capitol on the beach property were “clean” and lacked annotations that would refer to a pending case of any adverse claims against the property.

On the other hand, Garcia, who recently for a congressional inquiry into the Joint Venture Agreement between the city and FLI said the deal is “more questionable” than the purchase of the Balili lot.

In a separate development, Osmeña is pushing through with the scheduled luncheon with reporters and representatives of the Commission on Audit and the Office of the Ombudsman at the new JPSU-PSU Mariners Court Building.

He said he is impressed with the way it is built at only P160 million, way lower than the cost of the Cebu International Convention Center.

Osmeña said he was not able to send a personal invitation to the Governor but just the same, she is “still welcome if she wants to attend.” – Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO (THE FREEMAN)