WHILE most aspirants in the 2019 midterm elections are scrambling to join the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Tuburan Mayor Democrito ‘Aljun’ Diamante has ditched the ruling party to support Governor Hilario Davide III.
Diamante, one of the forerunners of PDP-Laban in Cebu, has filed his Certificate of Candidacy for vice mayor of Tuburan on Monday under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Diamante lamented that the national leadership of PDP-Laban did not value the “small leaders” like him over the “big” political clans in Cebu.
Diamante earlier announced his intention to run for representative of Cebu’s third district.
But PDP-Laban has given its Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) to Pablo John Garcia, brother of third district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, also the party’s gubernatorial bet.
Diamante said that he is making a district party, Sidlak Tercero Distrito, which will support Davide and his runningmate Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale in their reelection bid as well as former Pinamungajan town mayor Gaye Yapha as representative of the district.
Diamante added that he chose to forego his congressional bid because the slate for the local officials in Tuburan does not have a candidate for vice mayor. The incumbent vice mayor of the town who is Diamante’s brother, Danilo Diamante, will be running for mayor.