Traders fear impact of oust-Osmeña bid

CEBU CITY — Business leaders here fear that the move to initiate recall proceedings against Mayor Tommy Osmeña could send the wrong signals to potential investors and affect the business climate in the province.

"This will send negative messages to potential investors that the Philippine government is stable. The government crisis has not only hit local governments but top officials of the country as well. This would further translate into investment losses for Cebu," said Jose Ng, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ng said the recent squabble between President Arroyo and Vice President Teofisto Guingona is enough to scare away investors.

"There is already a government crisis in the country’s highest positions and one here in Cebu. This would not help us. This is in no way positive for Cebu’s business community," he said.

Ng called on the oust-Osmeña group to give the mayor the chance to finish his term since he is an elected official with a mandate from the people.

Osmeña, who earlier said he was not bothered by the recall move, now admits a preparatory recall assembly initiated by barangay heads allied with former mayor Alvin Garcia can muster the support of majority of barangay officials in a meeting tomorrow.

Osmeña said the officials can get the majority because 61 of the city’s 80 barangay heads belong to the opposition.

The recall of a provincial, city or municipal official can be validly initiated if majority of the members of a preparatory recall assembly adopt a resolution in a session called for the purpose.

With this city having 720 barangay officials, those pushing for the recall need a majority of 361 officials for the move to succeed.

Osmeña claimed that Garcia has been offering each barangay P100,000 for its officials to sign the recall petition.

He said Garcia may have realized that he has no chance of regaining City Hall in the 2004 elections, thus the need to remove him now. — Freeman News Service