Margot Osmeña to run for Cebu City mayor

CEBU, Philippines —  Former Cebu City first lady and councilor Margot Osmeña has ended all speculations as she confirmed yesterday that she will be the one to run for mayor under the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) in the May 2022 elections.

“Tinuod. Dili na ‘na tsismis. Akong pagdagan pagka-mayor ba, this is not something nga si Tommy nagsulti nako, na ‘dagan ka Margot.’ Sukad-sukad pa sa pagsugod, wala siya nag-mando nako ba nga ‘Margot,okay it’s your turn,’” Margot said on ‘The Not So Late Show with Jason Monteclar’ posted over Facebook.

Former mayor Tomas Osmeña also confirmed that Margot will be BOPK’s candidate for mayor.

“Yes, it’s official. What the city needs now is not a strict father, but a caring mother. Like an ailing child, our city needs help. Cebu City has one of the highest COVID case rates in the country, the highest at one point. Many of the fatalities are our senior citzens, whose assistance is no longer being distributed on a regular basis. The Long Life Medical Assistance Program, which delivered medicine house to house for free, was ended more than 2 years ago. CHAMP services have been reduced to next to nothing,” Tomas said in a Facebook post last night.

“Margot spent 9 years as City Councilor and as Acting Mayor making these programs and more run and run well. I am not ashamed to admit that she is more qualified than I am to take care of our city in the painful difficulties our people are going through today. Our City needs a MOM,” the former mayor added.

Earlier, sources told The Freeman that South District Representative Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa, who was supposed to run for mayor under BOPK, has decided to give way to the Osmeña spouses.

Margot, who will face Vice Mayor Michael Rama for the city’s top post, commended Abellanosa’s selflessness, saying she was shocked by his decision.

“He (Bebot) volunteered (to give way). Na-shock gyud mi. This is my chance to say, I really admire Bebot. Naa siyay chance mag mayor..mag bise, but siya mismo nagsulti para wala nay samok sa family sa BOPK,” said Margot.

After several discussions with the party, Margot said she decided to offer herself as the BOPK’s mayoralty candidate.

“Maybe blessed gyud ko, swerte gyud ko nga akong bana kanunay nagpakita’g respeto nako.He respects how I am,” the former councilor said.

Margot will run with Association of Barangay Councils president Franklin Ong as her runningmate.

Tomas, on the other hand, is aiming for a return to Congress to replace Aballanosa whose son, Bebot Jose, is seeking for a seat at the Cebu City Council.

In the North District, Margot confirmed that former congresswoman Cutie Del Mar will be BOPK’s candidate for the House of Representatives. – LPM (FREEMAN)