A different battlefield

So it will be a rematch between Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and Third District Representative Gwendolyn Garcia in the midterm elections next year. The latter already filed her certificate of candidacy last week.

Many think their upcoming showdown for the Capitol's highest position will be different from their fight in 2010 when Garcia, then re-electionist governor, defeated Davide in his first entry into provincial politics.

For Davide, who soundly outclassed Garcia's two brothers in the previous two elections, has already gained following from the grassroots aside from being the man to beat because he is the present occupant of the Capitol.

Well, that remains to be seen. Garcia remains undefeated and her comeback bid will undoubtedly put to test Davide's winning streak despite the latter having the advantage being the sitting chief executive.

However, for Garcia to succeed, she needs a winnable runningmate to boost her candidacy. And that runningmate should represent areas where she needs to strengthen her image and that he or she must possess the power to draw votes for the standard bearer.

However, as of Sunday, the identity of Garcia's runningmate remains a mystery. She said she will reveal the person in due time. She has been courting Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon to be her vice gubernatorial bet. But the last-termer congressman begged off as he wants to focus on his district where his wife is running for Congress.

Of course, many expect a Davide-Garcia matchup in May to have all the elements of a classic political showdown. We all know Davide is raring to exact revenge over his defeat in 2010 while Garcia wants the governor to pay for beating her two brothers in 2013 and 2016.

Yes Garcia still has the charisma. However, she needs to employ new tactics. While she is fighting the same opponent she had defeated, the war is now being waged on a completely different battlefield.