GMA confirms oath-taking in Cebu

CEBU — Has President Arroyo virtually claimed victory in the May 10 elections?

This appears to be the case after she reportedly confirmed to Mayor Tomas Osmeña in a telephone conversation three days ago that she will be taking her new oath of office here on June 30.

"The President will be taking her oath of office on June 30 here in Cebu City," said Osmeña in a surprise announcement during his regular press conference yesterday.

But pressed to confirm Osmeña’s announcement, Mrs. Arroyo’s campaign spokesman Michael Defensor said in text message that he was "not really sure."

Osmeña, also pressed by The Freeman if the confirmation by Mrs. Arroyo of her oath-taking in Cebu City indicated that she was in fact claiming victory, replied: "I’m just telling you what she said to me."

Cebu voted overwhelmingly for Mrs. Arroyo in the last election, although her rival movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. claims her victory was marked by massive cheating, a claim widely disputed by Cebuanos, including Cardinal Vidal.

In Cebu City, Mrs. Arroyo got 220,060 votes while Poe managed only 58,591 votes. In the entire province, the President garnered 965,630 votes against Poe’s 125,099.

But only Congress, in joint public session, can proclaim the official winner in the presidential race.

If Mrs. Arroyo does get to be proclaimed winner, Osmeña said the President will only be taking her oath in Cebu but will be flying immediately back to Manila to deliver her inaugural speech. — Freeman News Service