John Henry Osmeña
John Henry R. Osmeña | |
|---|---|
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office 1971 – 1972 1987 – 1995 1998 – 2004 | |
| Senate President Pro-Tempore | |
| In office 1999–2000 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 17, 1935 Cebu City, Philippines |
| Political party | Genuine Opposition (2007 to date) NPC (2004-2007) Independent (2004) PMP (1998-2004) PDP-Laban (1987-1992) Liberal Party (1963-1972) |
| Spouse | Lucy Urgello (separated) |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Politician |
Other Positions in Government | |
|---|---|
| Representative, Legislative Districts of Cebu (3rd District) | |
| In office 1969–1971 | |
| Representative, Legislative Districts of Cebu (3rd District) | |
| In office 1995–1998 | |
| Vice Mayor (Cebu City) | |
| In office 1965–1969 | |
| Councilor (Cebu City) | |
| In office 1963–1965 | |
John Henry Renner Osmeña (born January 17, 1935), also known as Sonny Osmeña or simply John Osmeña, is a former Senator of the Philippines (1987-1995, 1998-2004). In Cebu City he started out as City Councilor in 1963, became the Vice-Mayor in 1968 and was elected to the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District the year after.
Osmeña sponsored among others, a number of development-oriented bills like The Municipal Telephone Act (Republic Act 6849) whereby each municipality will a get a telephone system; The Mini-Hydroelectric Program (RA 7156), which will provide non-conventional electricity in the countryside; The Public Telecommunications Act of 1995 (RA 7925), and the creation of the Philippine Postal Corporation (RA 7354). He also authored landmark bills like The Electric Power Crisis Act (RA 7648) and The Build-to-Operate Act (RA 7718).
He was also responsible for the creation of the Department of Energy (DOE) after his Senate Bill was signed into law by President Ramos in 1992 known as RA 7638.
Four bills were incorporated in Republic Act 9136 or otherwise known as The Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2000:
- Senate Bill 1712 – Creation of National Transmission Company
- Senate Bill 1621 – Amending Section 5 of RA 7638 or the Department of Energy Law
- Senate Bill 1943 – Amending Certain Provisions of EO 172 or the Energy Regulatory Board as Amended by RA 8479
- Senate Bill 2000 – An Act to Modernize and Reform the Power Industry.
In 1970, he was named as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the country for his exemplary performance in Government Service.
At the Miting De Avance of the Liberal Party on Plaza Miranda on August 21, 1971, two grenades exploded one after other, killing 11 and leaving scores of people wounded. Both of Sen. Osmeña’s legs were badly injured.
Martial Law temporarily halted his political career. Immediately after President Ferdinand Marcos' declaration of martial law on September 23, 1972, Osmeña went on exile in the United States.
After the assassination of Former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino on August 21, 1983, he was the first political exile to return to the country to help in the fight against the Marcos dictatorship.
He was appointed officer-in-charge mayor of Cebu City in 1986. He was again elected Senator in 1987 and in 1992. He became the Representative of the 3rd District of Cebu in 1995 before clinching the senatorial post in the 1998 elections.
Controversy
In 2004, Osmeña was charged with sexual abuse [1], for which the Department of Justice (DOJ, Republic of the Philippines) cleared because "there is no probable cause to indict respondent with the offense charged." [2]
In 2007, Vice Governor John Gregory Osmeña, the son of former Senator John Henry Osmeña, was charged by the PDEA for his involvement in the importation of 1,500 kg of pseudo-ephedrine.http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2518&dat=20070317&id=kpQ1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=9ScMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1507,11318978 / http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr1007/public_hard.htm / Ang tanong, totoo ba ito o hindi, Mr. former Sen. Osmeña, na ang inyong anak ay sangkot sa diumano’y ilegal na pagpasok sa bansa ng may P3.6 bilyong halaga ng droga na kung tawagin ay pseudoephedrine na ginagamit sa paggawa ng shabu? Ang kinasuhan ay ang dating bise gobernador ng Cebu na si John Gregory Osmeña na nasangkot sa pagpuslit ng droga sa bansa may tatlong taon na ang nakakaraan.
In 2004, Senator John Henry Osmeña sued Governor Gwen Garcia for Plunder. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20040914&id=71c1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=iCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1823,23710479
Former Vice Governor John Gregory Osmeña, son of Senator John Henry Osmeña, was involved in the Perdido Lex Foundation scam. The staff of the office of the vice governor were the incorporators of Perdido Lex and the home address of the vice governor was utilized as the office of Perdido Lex. The said foundation was granted financial assistance by the Provincial Government for a bogus computerization program.http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/net/2004/02/05/accountant.denies.signing.perdido.lex.paper.html
Further Reading
References
- ^ "Sonny Accused of Call-Boy Rape". Retrieved 2004-04-01.
- ^ Calica, Aurea. "DOJ Drops Case vs. John Osmeña". Retrieved 2004-08-18.