A tamed Osmeña?

It looked like Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña was going to make an important announcement during the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan’s thanksgiving rally at the Plaza Sugbo last Sunday.

The mayor had been quiet these past two weeks since he received a tongue-lashing from President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte ranted against Osmeña who reportedly accused the former of being a “protector” of illegal drugs and of telling the national government not to meddle in the city’s affairs.

If I remember correctly, it was the first time that someone had publicly humiliated the mayor. Not only did Duterte call him a son of a bitch but the President also threatened to slap him when they see each other.

It was also the first time that Osmeña did not retaliate.

No insults. No challenges. No name-calling from the person who calls the opposition Team Suyop because its former titular head was included in the presidential list of officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. Basically nothing that the public could feast on. It was quite a letdown that our very own lion appeared to have been tamed.

A source who was at the event said Osmeña was on the verge of saying something but he was stopped by his wife, City Councilor Margot Osmeña.

I don’t know if that was true since I wasn’t there but then again, my source had no reason to lie since he’s not a Cebu City constituent and he doesn’t care about local politics.

Still, it made me wonder.

What was he going to say? Did it have anything to do with his health? His political plans? I know I shouldn’t speculate. I should stick to facts. Although the mayor did promise to answer questions about the police after several run-ins with them.

So was he finally going to make peace with Cebu City Police Office Director Senior Supt. Royina Garma and stick to running the city and delivering basic services? He is, after all, facing a complaint before the ombudsman that was filed by Garma, who accused him of facilitating the release of three detainees who were arrested for illegally refilling butane canisters with liquefied petroleum gas.

According to Garma, Osmeña violated “a very basic rule—not to intervene in any arrest.” But judging by what he did say last Sunday, the mayor will not change his stripes.

“If you were to call me in the middle of the night, and I see injustice because you will be put to jail, I will get you out. Ang ordinaryo nga tawo wa silay connection sa ibabaw. Usa ra ang ilang connection, ang akong cellphone number nga naa sa Facebook,” he told his supporters.

Well, trust Osmeña to be Osmeña.