Mimo Osmeña for Talisay City mayor?

CEBU, Philippines - Former Governor Lito Osmeña’s son, Mimo, will be the Liberal Party’s mayoralty candidate for Talisay City in the coming 2013 elections.

City Councilor Danny Caballero, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said Antonio Mariano “Mimo” Osmeña will be their standard bearer for next year’s local elections in Talisay City.

Mimo was earlier groomed for the first Cong-ressional district, but Caballero said LP is now eyeing San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy for the post.

“Right now, our group together with Mimo is busy visiting the different barangays of Talisay to extend some help to the people there,” Caballero shared.

The other day, Mimo, 46, and his five councilors, including three incumbents (Caballero, Val Ylanan and Romeo Villarante) distribu-ted packs of rice to the residents of barangay Bulacao.

Mimo, a resident of Cebu City, is yet to transfer his residency to Talisay City which is a requirement to make him qualify to run for mayor there.

Caballero said Mimo still has enough time to do that considering that a candidate for a local post needs only six months of residency in the area where he is planning to seek public office.

Caballero also revealed that either Aberdovey Belleza or Lani Abarquez, both former vice mayors of Talisay, are being considered as Mimo’s running- mate. Abarquez, who resigned as vice mayor in early 2009 to live with her husband in Australia, returned last month and was reportedly seen with her old party mates.

Both Caballero and Villarante, Abarquez’s brother-in-law, admitted that the former lady vice mayor met with her political allies when she was here.

Abarquez, according to Caballero, is reportedly returning before the elections.

While Talisay’s opposition camp is already starting to form its team, the administration bloc still finds it too early to even pick its own flag bearer.

In an earlier interview, first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas, who is currently on his third term, did not confirm nor deny rumors that he is running for Talisay City mayor.

The congressman, who is president of the administration’s formidable Alayon Party in Talisay also welcomed Osmeña in Talisay’s political game, saying anyone is free to run, as “the sun shines on everyone.” — (FREEMAN)