Tom, Mike lead battle of rallies
Cebu City’s two major political groups are set to rally their supporters on Sunday, barely a month until the filing of the certificate of candidacy for the 2019 midterm elections.
The group of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, will hold a Thanksgiving Mass at Plaza Sugbo while opposition group Barug Team Rama will hold a Solidary Mass at Plaza Independencia.
Councilor Margarita Osmeña told reporters: “We have to remind ourselves that there is another side to what's happening. There are good things happening and we should say thank you.”
The announced weeks ago that he wants to hold a Thanksgiving Mass for the approval of his programs and projects like the approval of P18 billion development on Kawit Island, establishment of central material and sanitary landfill in barangay Binaliw, victories in the Association of Barangay Councils and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation elections, and the approval of 93-1 land swap deal, among others.
BOPK will invite recipients of the 93-1 deal to the event.
“We have so much to be thankful for. Isla dela Victoria, the BRT, the One Stop Shop, Margie Didal's victory and the Skate Park, the new market in Pasil, 93-1, so many blessings have come our way. I will speak briefly about the state of our city, but this event is primarily in thanks for what we have,” the mayor has said.
Meanwhile, opposition councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said the group decided to hold the Solidarity Mass on Sunday since there are no classes and traffic will not be as bad as during other days of the week.
"The PDP Laban Cebu City Chapter and cause oriented groups supporting President Duterte, will hold a concert on Sunday, September 9 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Plaza Independencia grounds. The event will also be an occasion to express support for the president's war on drugs and criminality,” reads a portion of Garcia's letter request to the mayor.
Garcia said the group expects 10,000 attendees as they invited bis-rock bands to participate in a concert that will follow the Mass.
Top officials of the Police Regional Office-7, Cebu Provincial Police Office, and Cebu City Police Office are reportedly attending.
Councilor Joel Garganera said the event is a proDuterte rally as the group will express its support for the police's fight against illegal drugs and criminality.
“Low morale na kaayo ang police karon. I've been saying this ba nga if you rally against the police, unsaon ang peace and order sa atong lugar?” he added.
SERGIO OSMEÑA
Prior to these two gatherings, the city government will commemorate the 140th birth anniversary of Sergio Osmeña, Sr., the fourth president of the country, at Plaza Sugbo.
Senator Richard Gordon is expected to attend the commemoration.
Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) will also hold its own commemoration on Sunday. Its headquarters, after all, is named after Osmeña.
Chief Supt. Debold Sinas said they have sent an invitation to a scion of Osmeña Sr.
PRO-7 will be holding a Mass at 7 a.m., which will be followed by a program that will feature a roleplaying about the life of Osmeña Sr.
“We place rebulto to give honor and justice for them. This is a good tradition to practice because it will develop a good moral character. This will give an idea sa mga bag-ong pulis basin nakalimtan na nila,” Sinas said.