Another Sen. Osmeña? Promdi to field Lito

CEBU — The Osmeñas will always stick to politics, however hard they try not to.

After having publicly declared only about three months ago that he was no longer interested in seeking an elective post, former governor and Promdi (Probinsiya Muna Development Initiative) chairman Emilio "Lito" Osmeña said the other day that he will definitely run for senator in May.

Lito said this time, he is 99.9 percent serious in going back to politics.

"Only fools don’t change their minds," he told reporters.

Since losing his presidential bid in 1998, Lito chose to distance himself from politics until lately, when opposition parties merged and pressed for the resignation of former President Joseph Estrada.

Lito bared his decision to stage a political comeback in a meeting with Promdi stalwarts at the Kinamot Restaurant last Monday.

Lito said he was prompted by the insistence of leaders of the united opposition to run again.

He said he will be the only Promdi senatorial candidate who will be supported by the united opposition in the coming elections.

But despite assurances that he will get the support of coalition members, including Senators Teofisto Guingona and Raul Roco and Executive Secretary Renato de Villa, Lito said his senatorial bid will not be that easy considering that two Osmeñas will be running for senator this May.

Lito’s cousin, Sen. Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III is up for re-election.

Under the rules of the Commission on Elections, in case two parties carry candidates with the same family name, votes cast bearing only the last name of the candidate will be counted in favor of the incumbent party.

"I do not discount the fact that the Osmeña vote will be counted for the incumbent. But Lito is already known because of Promdi. I will campaign using Lito O," the former governor said.

"I hope I will get testimonials from Roco and De Villa, and most importantly, from Guingona because he knew how I gave way to the candidacy of Serge before," Lito said, referring to the support he gave Serge when the latter first ran for senator in 1995.

Lito said he gave up his senatorial slot in favor of Serge, but his cousin later decided to run for vice president in 1998, the same year he (Lito) ran for president. Both Osmeñas lost in that election.

"The only logical conclusion then was that he tried to block my presidential candidacy," Lito said.

The former governor has vowed not to endorse Serge’s re-election bid.

Although Serge is one of the 10 senators who voted, during Estrada’s impeachment trial, for the opening of the second envelope that supposedly contained evidence of Estrada’s bank accounts of alleged ill-gotten wealth, Lito said his cousin has not contributed anything to the united opposition.

"In fact, he has always been an ally of Sen. John "Sonny" Osmeña. They only parted ways in the last votation involving the opening of the second envelope," Lito said.

Lito and his brother Sonny have long been at political odds.

Lito said his decision to run for senator will not create changes in Cebu politics.

"I don’t see any possible complications in local politics. Former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña cannot carry two Osmeñas in his ballot," Lito said.

Tommy recently declared that he will still campaign for his brother (Serge) in spite of Lito’s stand on the matter.

Tommy will try to regain the Cebu City mayorship in May against incumbent Mayor Alvin Garcia, with a councilor slate which Promdi will adopt.

Lito said he talked to Tommy Sunday night but refused to give details of that meeting.

Gov. Pablo Garcia, for his part, said Lito would be a welcome addition to the Senate.

"Besides, Lito has more following than his cousin, and is a more exciting personality. He has more sex appeal," Garcia said.

Promdi will be fielding two more Cebuanos as congressional party-list candidates in the next elections: provincial consultant on barangay affairs Achilles Cañete and media personality Alex Bolongaita.

Incumbent party-list Rep. Joy Augustus Young is seeking re-election. — Freeman News Service