Comelec decision unofficial but text excites me - Lito O.

CEBU, Philippines - Former Cebu Governor Emilio Mario “Lito” Osmeña yesterday clarified the rumors circulating through text (or short message service) that the Commission on Elections has reversed its earlier decision to reject his bid for the Senate.

“I just want to clarify that there has been no communication from the Comelec to my lawyers in Manila regarding rumors that the Comelec unanimously decided that I should be qualified to run for Senate,” Osmeña said.

He however admitted that the news excites him and his supporters and that his camp remains optimistic the Comelec will reverse the decision and will announce the good news today.

Osmeña said he wants to receive an official notice from the Comelec first before he allows the message to continue circulating.

He first heard of the rumor when his son called from abroad to congratulate him. His lawyers however could not verify it yet and he said they would not bother to follow it up from the Comelec because they understand the commission is busy at the moment with its preparations for the coming elections.

“We will let them announce it and I am 99 percent convinced that it should be announced soon,” Osmeña said hoping that they will be notified as early as possible because he still has to prepare for the campaign. He said he has to print materials and compose jingles, among others.

Asked whether he would still have ample time to prepare, he said that even when the Comelec rejected his bid, his camp pursued with the early preparation because they are confident that things will turn out good in the end.

“I have always been confident that I will be a candidate. My main concern is the credibility and consistency of our Constitution, I was qualified to run before for president why not now?” he added.

He ran for president and lost in 1998 and now he is back to run in the Senate as he had earlier said that Cebuanos must have a Cebuano-speaking representative in the Senate.

Osmeña said that he intends to empower every Filipino and herd them into better economic circumstances, possibly into the middle-class level. “I don’t want to hear anymore about poverty. I will also make sure that all GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) and SSS (Social Security System) members’ contributions will benefit only the members,” Osmeña said.

He added that he is supporting Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal for president, Hilario Davide III for governor and Glenn Anthony Soco for vice governor. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)