Garcia plans to run vs Osmeña in ’04

CEBU CITY — Former city mayor Alvin Garcia announced the other day his intention to seek the mayorship in the 2004 elections against his erstwhile political party mate, now nemesis Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

"Chances of running... yes," Garcia told The Freeman as he confirmed his plans to stage a political comeback under the Kugi Uswag Sugbo party, which he formed after he broke away from the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) that catapulted him to the city’s top post.

Garcia’s announcement was a prelude to Kusug’s general membership meeting next week where he is expected to formally declare his candidacy.

Garcia earlier spearheaded an attempt to unseat Osmeña via a Preparatory Recall Assembly, which the Commission on Elections dismissed due to technical lapses.

The contest between the city’s two political giants in the 2004 polls will be a heated rematch with both sides boasting of their respective alliances with national parties.

Garcia said he is considering a tie-up with either Sen. Panfilo Lacson or business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, both touted as the opposition’s presidential bet.

Should President Arroyo change her mind and seek the presidency, Garcia said he would be aligning with her party for the same purpose.

Osmeña, for his part, is perceived to be enjoying the support of presidential aspirant Raul Roco.

In the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) elections last October, 52 barangay heads allied with Osmeña, and the rest (28) went with Garcia. Garcia used to have the support of 61 barangay captains.

Garcia’s ABC presidential bet Jose Navarro Jr. was defeated by Osmeña’s candidate, Eugenio Faelnar. The same was true in the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation presidential elections where Osmeña’s bet, Glena Bontuyan, beat Garcia’s candidate.

Currently, the city council is also an Osmeña majority, with Vice Mayor Michael Rama leading the pack of 13 councilors, as against five who are affiliated with Garcia’s Kusug party.

Garcia, however, is apparently unfazed, confident that he would boot out Osmeña in the 2004 mayoral race.

He told reporters that he is considering either former councilor Rodolfo Cabrera or former ABC president Navarro as his running mate.

Reacting to Garcia’s plans, Osmeña said, "It’s a free country; anybody can run. But I think Garcia is an ideal opponent."

Equally confident of a victory, he said Garcia would get votes "especially from the people who benefited from his previous administration."

When asked who would be included in his BOPK ticket, Osmeña said it would be a "status quo," referring to his previous line-up.

Councilors George Rama and Gerardo Carillo, however, earlier had signified their intentions not to seek re-election. But Osmeña said he would ask the two to reconsider their decisions.

Osmeña and Garcia used to be close friends and political partners, launching their political careers together by forming the BOPK and winning the city’s top posts in 1988.

In 1995, Osmeña gave up what seemed to be a sure third term, stepping aside in favor of Garcia who eventually became the mayor and the nominal head of BOPK. Osmeña acted as his adviser.

Garcia won a second term in 1998 but this time, his alliance with Osmeña began to sour. In that elections, Garcia severed ties with BOPK and formed Kusug.

In the 2001 elections, Osmeña ran against Garcia and won by a slim margin of only a little over 3,000 votes.

Early this year, Garcia persistently denied speculations that he would be throwing his hat in the political arena against Osmeña. — Freeman News Service