MAGPALE ISSUES CLARIFICATION
I never said it was Mayor Sara who asked me to run [for governor].”
This was the clarification made by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale amid rumors that she allegedly claimed to being pushed by the presidential daughter to run for governor against third district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia next year.
Although earlier speculations suggested that it was Carpio who endorsed Magpale to run for governor, the vice governor maintained that the presidential daughter has nothing to do with the decision between her and Gov. Hilario Davide III to switch positions.
“When I was interviewed nga gikan ko og Davao, gi-announce na nako during the presscon that Mayor Sara said di siya manghilabot kay gubot kaayo dinhi,” Magpale said on Tuesday.
(When I was interviewed upon my return from Davao, I already announced that Mayor Sara said she won’t interfere in Cebu politics because it’s very messy)
“Kining among pag-switch, daghan kaayo nga factors ani, [including] even some mayors, but we never mentioned Mayor Sara,” added Magpale. (Our decision to switch positions was due to a lot of factors but we never mentioned Mayor Sara)
Magpale also said that she welcomed the declaration of Carpio that she won’t be endorsing any gubernatorial bet in Cebu for the 2019 polls.
Carpio, during her visit in Cebu on Monday, endorsed both Magpale and Garcia in two different occasions.
Carpio signed a sisterhood agreement between Davao City and Liloan town where Garcia’s daughter, Ma. Christina Frasco, is mayor.
Frasco, who is running for reelection under her mother’s slate, said that Carpio’s visit and sisterhood ties with her town “only serves to reinforce” the support of the administration to Garcia.
But Carpio also shared the stage with Magpale during the signing of the alliance agreement between Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Carpio’s regional party, and Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing’s group. Magpale was invited by Quisumbing to attend the event.
“During the event in Mandaue, niingon man gyod siya (Carpio) nga ‘Kini man gud si Congresswoman Gwen pareho silag partido sa akong amahan, kani si Vice Gov. Magpale paryente ni sa akong amahan kay Almendras man siya,” Magpale said.
“Iya mang gisaka ang akong kamot [during the event in Mandaue City] pero sa Liloan pod [she endorsed Garcia]. Anyway okay lang,” added Magpale.
(She raised my hand in Mandaue City, but in Liloan she also endorsed Garcia. Anyway, that is fine.)
Magpale also clarified that no alliance was forged between HNP and Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud), the ruling party in Cebu’s fifth district where she belongs.
Carpio said on Monday that the alliance did not push through because some members of HNP did not approve it.
“I think it was just misinterpreted. There is no direct Bakud-HNP alliance but dunay alliance between NPC (Nationalist People’s Coalition). Ang NPC ug Hugpong ang dunay alliance,” Magpale explained.
NPC is, incidentally, the national party of Bakud.
In August, HNP forged an alliance with NPC, the Nacionalista Party (NP) and National Unity Party (NUP).