POLITICS ‘I may pass on to Margot mayor’s job to focus on other important things’

As he is planning to concentrate on a few things, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he is considering a plan for his wife, Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, to run for mayor in the next election.

In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña said he would be Margot’s vice mayor if the latter decides to run for mayor.

“Maybe I will let Margot run, it’s just a thought. The workload of the mayor is very clerical. I want to concentrate on few things. My wife doesn’t know this and she might get angry with me,” he told reporters.

Osmeña said he wants his wife to become mayor to lessen his workload as he wants to focus on other programs for the city, including encouraging investors to develop plantations in upland barangays.

The mayor said they have not discussed the matter with members of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan yet.

Osmeña clarified, though, that the decision is not yet final and he might decide to run for mayor again.

Osmeña said that Margot, who is now serving her last term as councilor, is “very useful” in City Hall.

“She’s very helpful, she watches my back, the budget and this and that. I will be her background. I don’t need a legacy, I just want to implement something to make the life of everyone better,” he said.

Osmeña said that for him to concentrate on bigger things, including the multi-billion-peso Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project, he has to be relieved of the daily normal routine of the mayor, including signing documents and attending social events.

“I only have a few more years in my productive life. I really want to concentrate on solving basic problems and doing new things, new innovations,” he said.

When sought for comment, Councilor Osmeña just laughed at the thought of running for mayor.

She added that after serving three terms as councilor, she wants to focus on taking care of her grandchild.

For his part, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who also plans to run for mayor in the opposition, said anyone can run for city mayor. If they do run for mayor, it would be the first attempt for both Councilor Osmeña and Vice Mayor Labella./