Tom tells critics he is getting well

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas Osmeña said congressional aspirant Jonathan Guardo and radioman Bobby Nalzaro —whom he said are allegedly always praying that he will die— will have to be disappointed as his physical condition is already improving.

In fact, he said he even walked the seven-kilometer route of the solemn procession of the Sto. Niño last Saturday.

“When I come back after my regular physical check-up in Houston, Texas mohilak na usab sila. Moingon nga uy, buhi pa man diay,” Osmeña jokingly told news reporters during his regular press conference yesterday.

Osmeña will be accompanied by his wife Margot when he flies to Houston, Texas, tomorrow to undergo another check-up at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The mayor’s urinary bladder was removed because of cancer last year.

Guardo and Osmeña are both aspiring for the congressional post of the city’s south district during the May 10 elections while Nalzaro, who handles a daily radio commentary program, sometimes criticizes the mayor over the airwaves.

But Nalzaro denied he is praying for the death of the mayor because there is nothing personal when he criticizes him in his radio program.

“Ngano god tawon nga giapil ko niya sa politika? Kanang akong kumentaryo niya, nothing personal. It’s all issues. Wala siya mahibalo nga I supported him in some of his causes like the vigilantism and recently the clearing of sidewalks,” Nalzaro said.

“I’m not a religious person but I included him in my prayers. He can scan my previous columns in newspaper, especially during that time he was diagnosed and operated for cancer, I prayed for him,” he added.

Guardo also denied praying for the death of his main political opponent.

 “That is very un-Christian. Pero mangutana lang ko, ngano sige man siya’g hisgot og kamatayon? Maguol man sad ta,” he said.

Meanwhile, Osmeña yesterday announced that he is willing to continue helping the city look for more investors to invest at the South Road Properties if the next mayor will ask him to.

Osmeña earlier said he was forced to run for Congress after his term just to protect the SRP whom he considers as his “baby” because it will help the city to become the richest city in the country out of the sales of the SRP lots. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP

 (FREEMAN NEWS)