Osmeña was accused of collaborating with the Japanese in World War II. He overcame the charges and returned to the Philippines and became President of the De La Rama Steamship Co.
Political career
In 1951, he was elected provincial governor of Cebu and Mayor of Cebu City for three terms in 1955, 1959 and 1963. Elected as representative for the second district of Cebu in 1958, his notable work as fiscalizer brought him recognition from the Congressional Press Club which voted him as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Congressmen of 1959. In 1961, Osmeña ran for Vice President of the Philippines as an independent, but lost to Senator Emmanuel Pelaez. In the November 1965 elections, he won a seat in the Philippine Senate.
1969 Philippine Presidential election
Osmeña publicly opposed the Marcos administration. On April 5th 1969, at the St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Marcos accused Osmeña of collaborating with the Japanese in World War II. Later on June 15, Osmeña won the Liberal Party nomination for President of the Philippines, and would run against incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos for the 1969 Philippine presidential election. It was an election regarded as the "dirtiest, most violent and most corrupt" in Philippine history. Marcos spent $50 million USD in infrastructure projects in an effort to curry favor with the electorate. This rapid campaign spending was so massive that it would be responsible for the Balance of Payments Crisis of 1970, whose inflationary effect would cause social unrest leading all the way up to the proclamation of Martial Law in 1972. Marcos was reported to have spent PhP 100 for every PhP 1 that Osmena spent, using up PhP 24 Million in Cebu alone. The Marcos administration conducted vote-buying, terrorism and ballot snatching. Marcos also used the Armed Forces of the Philippines to disseminate his campaign propaganda.
Subsequent activities
Following his presidential loss, Osmeña continued as a leader in the Liberal Party. On August 21, 1971 Osmeña along with prominent members of the Liberal Party held a proclamation rally at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo. While on stage with the other Liberal leaders, two hand grenades were thrown onto the stage injuring Osmeña. The Plaza Miranda bombing, injured 95, including Osmeña, and killed 9. Afterwards, Osmeña left for the United States and lived in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. Marcos proclaimed martial law in September 1972 and submitted documents to the U.S. Congress. The documents were regarded as bizarre, in addition to a "communist threat" of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the "rebellion" of the Muslim Independence Movement, the documents charged that declaration of martial law was also due to a plot to kill Marcos. Osmeña was accused of being a key figure in the plot, though no formal charges were filed against him.
Personal life
He was married to Lourdes de la Rama of Negros Occidental with whom he had five children: Sergio Osmeña III; María Victoria Osmeña; Esteban Osmeña; Tomas Osmeña; and Georgia Osmeña.
