Osmeña: Don Sergio's statue a smokescreen

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña is opposed to the planned installation of his grandfather’s statue along with that of Mayor Michael Rama’s grandfather in front of the old City Hall building.

Osmeña accused Rama of using Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. as a smokescreen to justify the spending of P1.5 million for the statue of the late Senator Vicente Rama, father of the Cebu City Charter. 

“I will not allow Don Sergio to be used as a smokescreen to justify spending P1.5 million per statue,” Osmeña told The FREEMAN.

The congressman said “it is clear that Mike is suffering from delusions of grandeur.”

According to Osmeña, Rama is preparing for the 75th Charter Day celebration next year.

The Mayor refused to react on his predecessor’s accusation saying he does not want to dignify the former mayor’s statement.

The conflict between the mayor and the congressman is a reminiscent of the old political conflict between the two clans.

Don Sergio and Don Vicente were also political enemies in the past. Don Vicente ran for representative of the third congressional district of Cebu and won against all the candidates of the party in power, Partido Nationalista then led by Don Sergio.

When Don Vicente authored and caused the passage of Commonwealth Act. No. 58, the charter of Cebu City, he was also met with stiff opposition from nearly all sectors in the then Municipality of Cebu. The oppositors were led by Don Sergio.

To honor the two great leaders of Cebu, Rama is pushing for the installation of the bronze statue of his grandfather and that of Osmeña’s.

The 9-feet tall statue of Don Vicente and Don Sergio will be erected in front of the old City Hall building.

Each statue costs P1.5 million including transportation from Manila. The statues will be made by sculptor Juan Sajid Imao. (FREEMAN)