Sonny to run for Congress again

CEBU, Philippines -Former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña, 76, has announced his bid to run for Congress in the third district of the Province of Cebu in the 2013 elections.

His ally, former third district representative Antonio Yapha Jr. will also run for Provincial Board member, a position he has previously held.

The announcement was made during the first of a scheduled series of medical missions held in Barangay Bulongan, Toledo City, yesterday.

Almost 500 residents benefited from half a million pesos worth of medical assistance in the form of medicines and surgical and dental procedures.

Last month, Osmeña was reportedly seen in the third district but he neither confirmed nor denied plans to run for Congress saying it was too early to say so.

He said that he was just there upon the invitation of friends in the third district where he served as representative in 1995 before clinching the senatorial post in the 1998 elections.

During the fiesta of Tuburan town, Osmeña was reportedly actively participating in the activities by giving financial assistance.

Osmeña is seen to challenge incumbent Rep. Pablo John Garcia who is expected to seek a second term in Congress after announcing that he is not running for governor after his sister, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, ends her third and last term in 2013.

Pablo John earlier said he heard Osmeña will be running for mayor of Toledo City but in any event he will run for Congress, he has been ready since 2010.

In the 2010 elections, Osmeña was reportedly running for Congress or mayor of Toledo City but ended up running for mayor of Cebu City and lost.

Osmeña served as a senator of the Philippines in 1971 to 1972, 1987 to 1995 and in 1998 to 2004.

In Cebu City he started out as city councilor in 1963, became the vice mayor in 1968 and was elected to the House of Representatives representing the former second district the year after.

He was appointed officer-in-charge mayor of Cebu City in 1986. He was again elected senator in 1987 and in 1992. He became the representative of the third district of Cebu in 1995 before winning as senator in the 1998 elections.

He sought reelection to the Senate but lost in the 2004 and 2007 elections. —(FREEMAN)