Wenceslao: For Osmeña, it’s Bebot, not Totol

Source: Sunstar.com.ph

LAWYER Aristotle Batuhan seems to be the odd man out in the search for Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan’s (BOPK’s) official congressional bet in Cebu City’s south district.

Bong O. Wenceslao

Candid Thoughts

View profile

That is, if one considers the recent statements of the party’s chief, Rep. Tomas Osmeña. Batuhan is among those in the list of BOPK’s south district “congressionables” together with Tomas’s wife Margot Osmeña and Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa.

“Margot doesn’t have to run,” Tomas told reporters the other day. “I think Bebot (Abellanosa) can handle it with the way things are shaping up.” Batuhan became but an afterthought for Osmeña, though, when he merely referred to him as not yet out of contention. Saying that “Bebot can handle it” means that, for Tomas, it is Abellanosa who can carry the BOPK’s torch in the south district and not Batuhan.

I know that Batuhan has been doing the rounds in the south district and reconnecting with his old leaders in the barangays. I don’t know, however, if his efforts have already been eclipsed by Abellanosa, who has been lobbying for the BOPK nomination since he realized he can no longer run for reelection for the city council. Still, I consider Batuhan a better material for the House of Representatives than Abellanosa.

Also Batuhan, if he is given BOPK’s backing, is in a better position to defeat the bid of former congressman Antonio Cuenco than Abellanosa. Batuhan has already shown in two previous congressional elections that he can go toe-to-toe with Cuenco. Abellanosa, though, has more campaign funds than Batuhan, and that would be an asset for BOPK.

Besides, Batuhan maybe with the Liberal Party (LP), which is allied with BOPK, but Abellanosa is a true-blue BOPK. And Abellanosa has not been known for his independence, which means he is more controllable, as far as Osmeña is concerned, than Batuhan. I doubt if Batuhan, who is a lawyer, would allow himself to become an Osmeña stooge.

Since all signs are pointing to Abellanosa getting the nod as BOPK official bet for Congress in the city’s south district, would Batuhan still be pursuing his congressional bid? Would he allow all his “rebuilding” efforts to go down the drain? And if he insists on running, would the LP bigwigs allow it? Doing so would mean he will be running against a candidate from an allied group.

To give the south district more choices, I think Batuhan should run for Congress in 2013, with or without BOPK support. If he does so, he can be considered a dark horse in a three-way battle. He can offer himself as an alternative to the moneyed Abellanosa and political veteran Cuenco.

Incidentally, Batuhan was one of the volunteer private prosecutors in the impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona. He reacted to my column, “Impeachment trial subplot” that came out on June 2, 2012. He referred me to his blog (totolbatuhan.com) that carried a reaction by Carmen Basa, daughter of Jose Ma. Basa III, one of the original owners of Basa Guidote Enterprise Inc. Here are excerpts:

“Truth and justice prevailed! Dad believed in fighting for a cause and he believed in the justice system. The same justice system that somehow evaded him during his lifetime…This truly is a victory for the Filipino people and the nation. The country should be celebrating because this conviction shows the entire world that the Philippines is now open for business.”

(khanwens@yahoo.com)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on June 08, 2012.

Read More

Gwen Garcia asks support for senatorial bid

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia asked support yesterday from residents of Tabogon for her Senate bid as well as her brother’s gubernatorial candidacy in 2013. 

Garcia attended the town fiesta of Tabogon yesterday and inaugurated the town’s heritage park.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

In her speech, she asked residents to help her become the first female senator from Cebu.

“Hinaut unta nga makighiusa ang mga Sugbuanon alang niining usa ka kawsa nga dili lamang alang nako. Kawsa sa mga Sugbuanon. (I hope Cebuanos will unite in helping me),” she said.

She said many have been asking what will happen to the projects she started once her term ends.

Garcia said she will continue the progress taking place in Tabogon. 

She said in a press conference that One Cebu’s candidate for governor is someone who can assure the continuity of the projects she has started. 

She also endorsed the candidacy of Provincial Board Member Joven Mondigo for another term in the board. 

Tabogon spent P350,000 for the heritage park. Garcia also gave P1.2 million for the town’s birthing centers. 

The town’s Liga Ng mga Barangay also received P150,000 from Capitol, while each barangay received P50,000 for socio-cultural projects.

The Provincial Planning Office is still waiting for the resolutions of other barangays so they can claim the amount. 

Another P300,000 was given for organizing the town’s Sanggi Festival.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 21, 2012.

Read More

2 Cebu rival leaders test village chiefs’ loyalty

source: SunStar.com.ph

CEBU -- Cebu City’s barangay chiefs were divided on Saturday when the two contenders for the mayoral elections in May 2013 summoned them for a meeting at the same time.

During the separate meetings, both Mayor Michael Rama and Representative Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) made promises to the barangays should they win as mayor next year.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

Mayor Rama met with 40 of the 80 barangay captains over lunch at the Grand Convention Center, for the signing of a memorandum of agreement for the release this year of P400 million from City Hall to the barangays. (Six other barangays were represented at the meeting by other officials, not their chiefs.)

Meanwhile, Congressman Osmeña met with 30 barangay chiefs, also during lunch time, at the White Gold House for a short “pulong-pulong” with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Osmeña, who heads the BOPK, vowed to the village chiefs that he will triple the City’s financial aid to the barangays if he wins as mayor.

“I will make a deal with you. When I make it back to City Hall, I will make it (financial assistance) times three so you will have something to look forward to,” he said.

The aid, Osmeña said, will be increased by 100 percent each year for the next three years -- but only for the barangays whose chiefs stay with the BOPK.

Rama, who is on his first term as mayor, left the BOPK last year after some public disagreements with Osmeña, who was his political ally for at least six straight terms.

Conditional

Under the P5.2-billion approved budget of the City for this year, the City’s financial aid to the barangays amounts to P400 million. Each barangay’s share depends on the size of their territory, but a minimum of P3 million was promised.

Osmeña alleged that Rama is threatening to hold the release of the barangays’ financial assistance this year if they will not swear to support Team Rama.

“Those nga dili makadawat (who do not receive anything), those of you who will stick it out with us, will be amply rewarded,” he said.

The law says barangay officials are supposed to be non-partisan, even during the barangay elections, but captains and other local officials also double as ward leaders during election campaigns.

The Rama camp denied ever saying the aid for the barangays who do not support them will not be released.

Promises

In an interview Saturday, Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Chief Michael Ralota said the Office of the Mayor scheduled a meeting with the village chiefs after learning about the BOPK’s meeting.

Asked about the matter, the Rama camp said that Saturday’s meeting with the barangay officials had been scheduled several weeks before.

Rama told those at the meeting that he will increase the City’s financial aid to the villages to P800 million, with each barangay getting P10 million, starting next year.

Rama also said he will increase the City’s financial assistance to the senior citizens. This year, the plan is to increase the senior citizens’ cash aid by P2,000, for a total of P7,000 each.

By next year, Rama said, he will increase it by P3,000, and again by P2,000 the year after that for a total of P12,000 or P1,000 each month.

“And that’s the target of our mayor nga taga buwan na sila magdawat (that the seniors will get something each month),” said Rama’s chief of staff, Philip Zafra.

SRP sale

Rama’s challenge, however, will be to get his budget approved by the council, where Osmeña’s allies make up the majority.

Osmeña, in his meeting, also vowed to double the financial assistance that the City is giving to the scholars and senior citizens.

He said the seniors deserve to get P10,000 each from the City, while the P10,000 cash assistance to the public high school graduates will also be increased to P20,000.

Cash assistance to the high school graduates in the mountain barangays will go up from P20,000 to P40,000, he pledged.

The City, Osmeña said, will have enough funds to cover the increases as it can already start selling lots at the South Road Properties (SRP).

The selling of SRP lots has been stopped during the Rama administration, with the council saying the City should wait until the price per square meter doubles.

Osmeña’s meeting on Saturday was attended by 30 barangay captains. Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young was also there as well as Representative Rachel Del Mar (Cebu City, north district), her father Raul Del Mar, and the BOPK city councilors.

Split

The barangay captains who went there are from Bacayan, Banilad, Capitol Site, Carreta, Cogon Ramos, Hipodromo, Kalubihan, Kamagayan, Kamputhaw, Kasambagan, Luz, Mabolo, Pahina Central, Parian, San Roque, Sto. Niño, T. Padilla, and Tejero in the north district.

For the south district, the barangay captains who were there are from Bulacao, Calamba, Cogon Pardo, Guadalupe, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Pahina San Nicolas, Pardo, Pasil, Quiot, Sudlon II, and Toong.

On the other hand, Rama’s meeting was attended by 46 barangays, 40 of which were represented by the captains themselves.

Six barangays were represented by a barangay councilor.

Those who went to Rama’s meeting are Adlaon, Apas, Agsungot, Binaliw, Busay, Cambinocot, Carreta (represented), Day-as, Ermita, Lahug, Lorega, Lusaran, Mabini, Malubog, Paril (represented), Pit-os, Sambag I, Sambag II (represented), San Jose, San Antonio, Sta. Cruz, Taptap, Tinago and Zapatera for the north district.

For the south district, those who went are the barangay captains from Babag, Basak Pardo, Basak San Nicolas, Bonbon, Buhisan (represented), Buot-Taup, Duljo Fatima, Inayawan, Kalunasan, Mambaling (represented), Pamutan, Punta Princesa, Pung-ol Sibugay, San Nicolas, Sapangdaku, Sawang Calero, Sinsin, Suba, Sudlon I (represented), Tabunan, Tagba-o, and Tisa. (Sun.Star Cebu)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 20, 2012.

Read More