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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Osmeña calls out Archival for no-show in arbitral award anniversary

Osmeña calls out Archival for no-show in arbitral award anniversary

Published Jul 14, 2026 09:22 pm
DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is welcomed by Cebu City officials during the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on Monday, July 13. (Cebu City PIO)
DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is welcomed by Cebu City officials during the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on Monday, July 13. (Cebu City PIO)
CEBU CITY – The ongoing diplomatic dispute centering on maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea between the Philippines and China has spilled into the confines of the Cebu City Hall.
Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña called out his close ally, Mayor Nestor Archival, for not attending the City Hall-initiated activity commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the West Philippine Sea on Monday, July 13.
Osmeña accused Archival of “playing safe” for not showing up in the activity that was attended by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.
"I'm very proud of the City Council. Unfortunately, our mayor's playing it safe. Doesn't like to be here. Doesn't like to be identified," Osmeña told reporters.
Osmeña said that unlike Archival, he is taking a stand in the issue.
“We have to protect our own, and we have to be very careful that opportunities are not being exploited to take advantage of our tolerance. So, I'm not tolerating anything," Osmeña said.
Responding to Osmeña’s criticism, Archival justified his absence.
"Public service is not measured by being present in one event alone, but by ensuring that every opportunity to secure programs, partnerships, and resources for our city is pursued," Archival said in a statement.
Archival said he was in Manila on Monday to attend two meetings, with the leadership of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and officials of the Department of Budget and Management.
He said he met DBM Secretary Kim de Leon to follow up the city’s request for assistance under the Local Government Support Fund.
"My commitment remains the same: To work tirelessly and always put the interests of Cebu City first," Archival said.
The diplomatic issue intensified after the Cebu City Council passes a resolution marking July 12 as West Philippine Sea Victory Day.
China's Consul General in Cebu, Zhang Zhen, described the city’s recent actions as blatant provocation. “As the Chinese Consul General based in Cebu, I really did not expect such a blatant provocation,” Zhang said in a press conference on Monday.
Zhang said the ceremony attended by Teodoro “raises the question of whether Cebu City chooses friendship or confrontation.”
“Whether they wish to move forward with exchanges and cooperation, or choose instead to provoke China and allow such negative moves to undermine the friendship between the two sides,” added Zhang.

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Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña Mayor Nestor Archival 2016 Arbitral Award
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