MAYOR OSMEÑA ‘LASHES’ OUT AT NEPHEW-COUNCILOR IN A CHANCE MEETING AT A HOTEL

Cebu City opposition Councilor Renato “Junjun” Osmeña Jr. accused his uncle, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, of lashing out at him in a hotel lobby last Saturday night. Councilor Osmeña said he was in the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel to pick up a friend. “He was looking down, but when our eyes met, I greeted him. I said ‘Good evening, Tito’,” he added. But the greeting reportedly did not sit well with the mayor who allegedly screamed “Get out of here!”. “I was shocked... Still, I calmly told him ‘Tito, this is not your hotel. I am also a guest here’,” he said. Sun Star Cebu tried to reach Mayor Osmeña, but he was not available as of press time. This was their first encounter after the mayor called his nephew a traitor for voting against a resolution that would have authorized him to sign an P18-billion deal to develop Kawit Island in the South Road Properties. The mayor, in a Facebook post, said that after he agreed with the recommendations of the ad hoc committee led by Councilor Osmeña tasked to scrutinize the deal, the latter still voted against the resolution. “I am 98 percent sure this is related to the JVA. On the record, he called me the night before the special session to ask me to help pass the measure. I said ‘Yes. I am for the project.’ I never said I would approve it, but I wasn’t lying when I said I support the project,” the councilor said. Councilor Osmeña said he remains hopeful that the mayor will see reason amid his hostility. “I hope it will not go to the extent where I will be suing him. While I may have high regards for him, I will not hesitate to exercise my rights. I am not afraid of him,” he added.