Junjun Osmeña seeks BOPK support

CEBU, Philippines - The elder brother of City Councilor Ritchie Osmeña is hoping to take over his uncle, Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña, as congressman of the south district.

Renato “Junjun” Osmeña Jr. made his intention known formally in a press conference yesterday.

“I am submitting myself to a process. I hope the people in the South District will give me a chance to serve them,” said the 47-year-old son of former Cebu City Mayor Renato Osmeña.

What he needs now, he said, is the backing of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), his brother and uncle’s political group.

“I am an Osmeña. Asa man diay ko padulong?. I think that is my advantage compared to others,” he said.

Osmeña was supposed to run in the 2010 national and local elections but Tomas reportedly advised him that he would not win against veteran politician Jonathan Guardo. Tomas ran instead and beat Guardo.

Should BOPK pick him as its candidate, Osmeña will be facing another veteran politician in the person of former Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco who has already announced staging a comeback.

Aside from Cuenco, another names being floated to run for congressman in the south district are Aristotle Batuhan, former undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication, and Cebu City Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa. – (FREEMAN)