Mayor hits nephew who voted vs. Kawit proposal

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has branded Councilor Renato “Junjun” Osmeña, a nephew, as a traitor for voting against the passage of a resolution that would authorize the mayor to sign an P18-billion deal.

In a Facebook post, Osmeña said that after he agreed with recommendations of the ad hoc committee tasked to scrutinize the deal, which Councilor Osmeña headed, the latter still voted against the resolution.

“He led the council’s ad hoc committee on Gokongwei’s P18-billion project, and after we agreed to all his recommendations, still voted against the project. He, in essence, voted against his own recommen- dations. Now, 5,000 jobs are gone. Junjun is a snake and a traitor to the Cebuanos,” the mayor wrote.

In a special session last Friday, the Council disapproved the resolution of Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. to allow Osmeña to sign the amended joint venture agreement with Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. to develop Kawit Island in the South Road Properties.

The development is projected to be worth P18 billion, a huge investment for the City, and will transform Kawit Island into an integrated resort facility.

UHRI is part of the Gokongwei group of companies.

Sought for comment, Councilor Osmeña said he is not against the project, but believes the terms should be reconsidered.

“I am for a straight lease. I don’t want to be dictated upon. I am for the project. But we just have to make sure it is for the best interest of the City,” he said.

Despite the strong words of the mayor, Osmeña said he is not offended because what he is doing is for the City.

During the special session last Friday, opposition councilors opposed the resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the deal because the 90-10 percent sharing scheme of the project is unacceptable, among other reasons.