Atan says sorry to Tommy

CEBU, Philippines - “They say that sorry seems to be the hardest word. I say it is not, so long as sincerity is at its center.”

These were the words of businessman Jonathan Guardo when he publicly apologized to Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña and the city as a whole yesterday.

He issued the apology during the fourth mediation hearing of the libel case Osmeña filed against the businessman for allegedly issuing malicious statements during the campaign period in last year’s national and local elections.

“What worries me is the pattern of harassment City Hall has deployed against the opposition. They removed my boards, prevented me from entering Barangay gyms, deprived opposition Barangays of gasoline allowances, stopped Cogon Pardo’s medical mission and now this Calamba incident,” the local newspaper quoted Guardo as saying.

Guardo was running against Osmeña for congressman when he issued the alleged defamatory statements came out in a local newspaper on January 10 and 11, 2010.

Yesterday, Guardo and Osmeña met for the first time since the libel case was subjected to mediation.

“So, I will say it again, to Congressman Tommy Osmeña and to the Cebu City Government, please accept my apologies for any affront caused by my statements that appeared in the newspapers on January 10 and 11, 2010,” Guardo said.

He said he is hopeful that the public apology would be allow him and Osmeña to move on and “hopefully “work together for the betterment of Cebu City.

Asked if his political group, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), will open its doors for Guardo, Osmeña said he was just “clearing the air.”

“I am not interested in his money and he also, but it’s just clearing some matters and well, I hope he will go on in his business and pursue any other matter,” Osmeña said.

He added the public apology of Guardo is enough.

“Well I’m happy it’s not about me but to protect the integrity of the city. The city was accused… and that’s another story… that’s not me anymore and it is my responsibility. Everyday many people said libelous statements against me it doesn’t matter but they have to remember the city is something else,” Osmeña said.

“When we attack the city, it just like we are attacking our family which is another story,” he added.

Guardo was assisted by lawyer Butch Cañares while Osmeña was assisted by lawyers Benjamin Militar and Richard Seville during yesterday’s proceedings.

Mediator Marissa Puche said she will submit the report to Judge Gilbert Moises, the presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 18 that is handling the libel case, and it would now be up for Moises to arrive at a decision. — /JMO (FREEMAN)