John Henry Osmeña
Encyclopedia
John Henry Renner Osmeña (born January 17, 1935), also known as Sonny Osmeña or simply John Osmeña, is a former Senator of the Philippines (1971-1972, 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.
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.
(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:
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.
In 2004, Senator John Henry Osmeña sued Governor Gwen Garcia for plunder.
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/static/net/2004/02/05/accountant.denies.signing.perdido.lex.paper.html
Political life
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.
Laws authored
Osmeña sponsored among others, a number of development-oriented bills like The Municipal Telephone Act (Republic Act 6849) whereby each municipality will receive 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 CorporationPhilippine Postal Corporation
The Philippine Postal Corporation, , abbreviated as PhilPost, is a government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for providing postal services in the Philippines. The Philippine Postal Corporation has an estimated 13,800 employees and runs more than 2,000 post offices nationwide...
(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.
Controversy
In 2004, Osmeña was charged with sexual abuse, 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."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.
In 2004, Senator John Henry Osmeña sued Governor Gwen Garcia for plunder.
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/static/net/2004/02/05/accountant.denies.signing.perdido.lex.paper.html