Osmeña: recall of vehicles is not a political move

By: Delta Dyrecka Letigio - 6 years ago

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is seeking reelection in May 13, talks to reporters following the Mass at Guadalupe Church that kicked off the campaign of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan on March 29, 2019. |CDND Photo/Delta Dyrecka Letigio

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña denied that the recall of vehicles from Barangay Cambinocot and other barangays was a political move against members of the opposing party.

The vehicles were being recalled for maintenance and repair after he received reports that these cars were already defective, the mayor said.

“Ah, bahala na sila. Sige silag ingon nga pamulitika. Mohatag kog tabang sa mga pobre, pamulitika (Its up to them. They keep on saying its politicking. If we help the poor, they say its politicking),” the mayor told reporters at the sideline of the campaign kick-off activity of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK).

Osmeña said that other barangays, including those headed by officials allied with the mayor’s BO-PK such as Barangay Carreta, also received the same recall order but only those aligned with the opposition Barug-PDP-Laban were taking it as a political move.

“Puro nalang (mi) pamulitika pero at least naay agi. Sila wala (They keep on accusing us of politicking but at least we have achievements. They have not nothing to show),” he said.

The mayor was reacting to the accusation of Cambinocot Barangay Captain Rey Lauron, who is running for councilor in the North District under Barug, that the timing of the confiscation of the vehicles was suspicious because it happened two days before the start of the campaign period for local positions.

The Commission on Elections has set the campaign period for those seeking posts in the House of Representatives, provinces, cities and municipalities from March 29, 2019 to May 11, 2019. The midterm elections is set on May 13, 2019.

Lauron denied that he used the vehicles for personal use.

Osmeña reminded anew the incumbent officials running for the upcoming May 13 elections not to use government-owned vehicles for their campaign activities.

He assured that BO-PK candidates have their own vehicles and would not need government vehicles for their campaigns. However, he also said that he cannot monitor everyone and urged the public to be vigilant.

“Let them file charges. I cannot check everybody,” he said./elb