Former Cebu City councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, the wife of ex-mayor Tomas Osmeña announced on Monday, October 4, she is running for mayor of Cebu City.

Osmeña made the announcement during the local online talk show of host Jason Monteclar.

Margot confirmed in a separate phone interview with Rappler that she was running for mayor because she felt like it was the right time to do it.

“It’s never been about ambition,” Margot told Rappler. “It’s because the city is not well. It’s time to do things differently and have a clear and decisive leader,” she added.

“I want to put confidence back in local government,” the ex-city councilor said. “We Cebuanos are proud that we’re able to take care of ourselves, at a point like this, who do you look to support? You look to the LGU,” she added.

It is her first time running for public office again after her third term on the Cebu City Council ended in 2019. It’s also her first attempt to run for mayor of Cebu City.

While she said in 2019 that she was retiring from politics, Margot, a former banker, said that she changed her mind and decided to run for mayor after consulting with her family and BOPK allies. 

Osmeña’s running mate for vice mayor is Franklin Ong, captain of Barangay Kasambagan.

Her husband Tomas, who lost his mayoral reelection bid in 2019 to Edgar Labella, will run as Cebu City’s 2nd District (South District) representative.

When she was city councilor, Margot prioritized the city’s fiscal health through responsible budgeting and spending.

So far, only Mike Rama, a former ally and vice mayor of Tomas Osmeña, has announced that he would run for mayor of Cebu City.

Margot has yet to file her certificate of candidacy. – Rappler.com