Canoy running against Gullas in first district
San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy will run for congressman in the first district under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Canoy filed his Certificate of Candidacy yesterday weeks after he expressed his disappointment over the ruling Liberal Party.
Over a month ago, LP presidential bet Mar Roxas appointed First District Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas as the party’s district chairman.
Roxas also announced that he would support Gullas’ re-election bid even if Canoy, an LP member at that time, already expressed his interest to run for the same position.
Last Sunday, Canoy said Governor Hilario Davide III spoke to him and told him that LP would nominate Gullas and not him.
“Ang gusto ana nila na mulansar ko pagka-congressman nga walay partido. Mao man na ilang tumong. That was the only reason nganong gi-single out ko nila na palagputon sa LP,” Canoy said.
“Pero ang panahon niduyog gyud nako nga nakakuha kog NPC,” he added.
Canoy alleged the Gullases are behind the move to drive him out of LP, something that Rep. Gullas denied.
Gullas said they do not have the influence to influence LP’s decisions.
“Kinsa man tawn mi nga naay say sa Liberal? We are from the Nacionalista Party. Kung naay gi-desisyonan ang Liberal in terms sa first district, it was their personal decision,” Gullas said.
Canoy refused to comment when asked if he believes Davide may have a hand in the matter or if he thinks the governor may have fought for him.
Canoy and Davide both shared earlier that they have been good friends and supported each other in their political careers.
With the recent turn of events, however, Canoy said his support for a gubernatorial candidate will depend on the choice of his new party.
“Kung dunay governor ang NPC adto ko kay NPC man ko. But wala pa mahibawi kay wala paman nitumaw na governor sa NPC,” he said.
He said, however, that since most of the mayors in the First District are from LP, his choice of Board Member will come from the party.
Canoy’s son, incumbent Vice Mayor Miguel Antonio “Micko” Canoy, will be running for mayor.
Davide, for his part, said he has expected losing Canoy’s support as a consequence of the choice LP had to make.
“We just have to face the consequences. Ako, I have to face this consequence na daghan mahiubos sa mga difficult decisions that I have to make,” Davide said.
“We (Davide and Canoy) spoke last Sunday and kibaw ko ana (Canoy’s disappointment). In fact I apologized to him na in-ani, na klaro naman gud to sa pronouncement ni Secretary Roxas nga si Cong. Samsam Gullas ang preference. That’s the order from above,” Davide explained.
The governor said Canoy had told him that he understands how politics works.
“He said kasabot siya kay inana gyud nang politika. There are so many political realities that you have to deal with. It was very difficult for my part because we were together in 2010 and 2013. He supported me and the liberals,” Davide said.
He hopes he and Canoy will remain friends. —