Interesting developments in two Cebu cities

I initially thought of an entirely different article today. President Rodrigo Duterte has been bashed enough for calling our God “stupid.” I do not want to add my opinion to the spiraling condemnation of our leader who, to me, just uttered something that highlighted his dangerous character. True to the off-tangent nature of this column, I tried looking for a less explored topic to dwell on. Then I came upon some developments in Talisay and Mandaue cities that appear interesting. Talisay City. Former Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes, or JVR, declared that he is running again for mayor in 2019. This came after Congressman Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas revealed that he will seek the city mayoralty in lieu of his grandfather, and in tandem with Vice Mayor Alan Bucao.

To recall, JVR, when elected city mayor in 2013, earned the reputation of being the first politician in Talisay to defeat former Cong. Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas, in an election, a spectacular achievement even if JVR’s margin was just about 700 votes only. In their 2016 rematch though, Eddiegul trashed JVR in an unprecedented difference of 58,000 to 24,000 votes.

This recent JVR political re-launching is anchored on two assertions. Firstly, he unabashedly claims of being closer to Talisaynons than Samsam. He reportedly have strong leaders and diehard followers in strategic parts of the city waiting to re-engineer his comeback bid.

Secondly, JVR believes that public perception is a political fact. Bucao is perceived to be an arrogant and ambitious personality, which became more pronounced when he won in 2016. On the strength of such perception, Bucao is a heavy baggage for Samsam to carry. He is a turn-off even among the most avid Gullas supporters. Then, his ambition may get the better of his judgment. Observers also anticipate the likelihood that Bucao might join the mayoralty race, and JVR thinks that, in a three-cornered fight, his chances of victory will be exponentially enhanced.

Mandaue City.A report in this paper, the other day, featured the oathtaking of newly elected/re-elected barangay chairmen administered by Congressman Jonas Cortes. Also reported was another oathtaking ceremony by a separate group of village captains, this time, before Mayor Luigi Quisumbing. The two ceremonies seemed to signal the emergence of two political groups in Mandaue City.

Before the 2016 elections, then Mayor Cortes was serving his last term while Quisumbing was a congressman. They decided to marshal their forces together and carried the Liberal Party flag with then Secretary Mar Roxas as presidential candidate. To accommodate each other, they agreed to change positions. Cortes ran for Congress and Quisumbing for mayor. The fusion fared well and brought them stunning triumph against the equally formidable forces of the Ouanos.

There is a scuttlebutt that Cortes desires to go back to being the city mayor, which his late father Demetrio held for a long time. But, it seems obvious that Quisumbing has, by visible accomplishments, tried to anchor firmly his hold of Mandaue. With two behemoths aiming at the mayoralty, a war of the expensive variety distinctly looms in the horizon. All eyes are on the Ouanos. They certainly can still field a team. As a third force, the Ouano bet is not necessarily the weakest. But if they coalesce with either Cortes or Quisumbing, their strength can help clear the political landscape and determine a predictable outcome.