Tomas: ‘Thanks, bye’ to allies who voted for SRP lots sale
Osmena (File Photo)
Are Councilors Richard Osmeña, Gerardo Carillo, Roberto Cabarrubias and Noel Wenceslao still with the Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK)?
This and other questions propped up when the four voted for the resolution authorizing Mayor Michael Rama to sell South Road Properties lots and after they were not invited in a dinner meeting with BOPK head Tomas Osmeña on his return from a trip to the US last Thursday.
Asked what could be the reason why the four councilors voted in favor of the SRP sale, the former mayor and south district congressman said, “I could only speculate why (they they did it) but I don’t ask for their loyalty anyway.”
Thanks, bye
The former mayor did not hide his disappointment over the four councilors’ decision to support a Team Rama initiative in the City Council. But he refused to answer when asked if he still considers the four councilors as BOPK members.
“Wala koy kalibutan unsay ilang gihimo [I have no idea what they did]. But circumstances are very interesting. Number 1 ngano gi himo nila sa panahon nga wala diri si Margot? Nga wala ko dinhi? [Why they did it when Margot (Councilor Margot Osmeña/ his wife) was not here? And when I was not here? That’s very unusual,” he said.
Councilor Margot Osmeña is chairperson of the powerful budget committee of the City Council.
Osmeña was still in the US when the draft SRP resolution was submitted to the City Council secretariat on August 8 for inclusion in the agenda on their August 13 session.
“Ug dili na ang mga konsehal nako [If the councilors don’t like me anymore], okay. Thank you. Bye. What’s important is what happens to Cebu. What happens to me is not important,” he said.
The resolution was approved with the four BOPK councilors and five Team Rama allies voting in favor during the August 13 session.
The resolution authorizes Mayor Michael Rama to negotiate and dispose through public bidding 26 hectares of lot 8 where the San Pedro Calungsod Templete is located and lots 7 and 17 which have a combined area of 19-hectares.
Lots 7 and 17 are located beside the ongoing condominium project of Filinvest Land, Inc.
Conscience vote
The younger Osmeña defended his vote and denied that it was act of disloyalty to his uncle and the BOPK.
“I supported the resolution based on facts. From what I read from the resolution and based on the dictates of my conscience,” he said.
“This has nothing to do with political color. Daghan ask nako if nag Team Rama na ko [many have asked me if I have joined Team Rama? Of course not. Ang ako [What I am after] is for the good of the city. I hope they understand my decision,” said councilor Osmena.
Carillo in a separate interview said that his support for the SRP sales resolution should not be construed as betrayal of the BOPK stand on the SRP issue.
He said that while he supported a new sales, he continues to contradict the opinion of Rama against the implementation of an ordinance which he sponsored extending a P5,000 cash assistance to solo parents.
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It’s official: Rama can now sell SRP lots
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