Manifesto out for Pablo John
ONE CEBU REACHES OUT TO MAYORS
A manifesto of support for the gubernatorial bid of 3rd District Rep. Pablo John Garcia is reportedly being circulated among mayors belonging to One Cebu Party.
“I heard about that manifesto of support and I heard that several mayors have signed,” said Garcia, the secretary-general of the party.
It could not, however, be ascertained yet how many signed the manifesto and who refused to do so.
“Wa pa ko ka pirma kung naa man na,” (I haven’t signed if indeed there is one) said Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia, elder brother of the congressman.
Nelson is the president of League of Municipalities in the Philippines ( LMP) Cebu Chapter.
ONE LESS VOTE Meanwhile, Pablo John yesterday said that losing the support of 2nd District Provincial Board Member Wilfredo Caminero is “one less vote” for him.
Caminero has declared his support to the gubernatorial bid of former Cebu City Councilor Hilario Davide III.
Garcia said that he is trying to understand the political situation of Caminero in Argao where Davide also hails from.
Garcia and Caminero met last Monday evening, few hours after the Provincial Board Member declared his support to Davide to the media at the Capitol.
Garcia did not, however, disclose any details of their meeting while Caminero could not be reached for comment.
Garcia also dismissed speculations that Caminero might run for Congress against his father, Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia in the 2nd District.
“He did express an interest kung matunga ang second district, he might run,” ( He did express an interest if the 2nd District will be halved, he might run) he said.
Caminero earlier said he is supporting Davide without necessarily shifting allegiance to the Liberal Party, where the latter is the provincial chairman.
But Garcia said their party members are expected to work for the party.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on the other hand thanked Caminero for expressing support to her senatorial bid.
She confirmed that Caminero has been supporting her even during the time he was in a difficult political situation.
Caminero has supported Garcia since 2004 elections even if his congressman, then Rep. Simeon Kintanar, did not.
The reason why Caminero will support Davide is because he made a promise to support him in the next elections.
Caminero said that he did not support Davide in the last elections as he wanted Gwendolyn to finish her term.
While there is a saying, “hindi pa tapos ang boksing,”
Gov. Garcia
“hindi pa yesterday said, nga nag- umpisa ang boksing, daghan pay mahitabo.”
“Huwag muna tayo magsalita ng patapos,” she further said.
ALAYON FOR PJ
The mayors and vice mayors of the 1st District of Cebu, who are with the Alayon Party of Rep. Eduardo Gullas, are backing the gubernatorial bid of Pablo John.
This was the consensus reached by the local political leaders of the district during the meeting called by Gullas at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel last Monday.
In that meeting, the veteran politician sought the comments of the mayors from his district about who the party would be supporting in the 2013 elections.
The first district covers the cities of Talisay, Carcar and Naga and the towns of Minglanilla, San Fernando, and Sibonga.
Allies of Gullas control all the cities and towns of the district except for San Fernando, whose mayor Antonio Canoy belongs to the Liberal Party. Canoy is the district head of LP.
According to former San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya, Gullas asked them who they will be supporting for governor.
She said that they were unanimous that they will support Pablo John’s gubernatorial bid.
Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong and Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura said that they’re inclined to support PJ.
Chiong, however, clarified that Alayon will officially make a stand as to who the party will support.
Alayon has been invited by both the LP and the United Nationalist Alliance ( UNA) for a possible coalition.
Gullas said that he did not take this matter up with President Benigno Aquino, who was in Cebu last weekend.
Rep. Gullas, however, told the mayors and vice mayors that he will be supporting Vice Governor Agnes Magpale in the 2013 elections.
Magpale, of Bakud Party, and Davide are reportedly running in tandem under LP. Bakud and LP formalized their alliance last weekend.
In 2010, Gullas and Alayon were with One Cebu party.
Gullas founded Alayon in 1986 after he was removed as governor of Cebu when Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency following the EDSA Revolution.
Rep. Gullas cannot be contacted for comment.
Gerard Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, who has been anointed as Alayon’s congressional candidate for the 1st District next year, confirmed that his grandfather had a meeting with his political leaders, but the final decision will still be announced.
Samsam said that Rep. Gullas recognized the effort of the incumbent governor on how she helped the people even if they lost in the district 2010 elections.
Separately, Pablo John said it is indeed an honor to be supported by majority of the mayors who are members of the Alayon party.
“I am thankful for and elated by the expression of trust and support from the 1st district mayors from Alayon. This is certainly a big boost to our candidacy,” Garcia said in a text message sent to The