Liberal Party’s challenge in 1st district awaits Roxas’ say

The question of who will call the shots  in Cebu’s first district for the  Liberal Party (LP)  will be raised to the party’s standard bearer, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.

Orvi Ortega,  Cebu Provincial Legal Officer and a member of LP, said the matter of choosing the district chairman is up to Roxas.

The controversy surfaced when Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas of the Alayon party issued a press statement last week  saying that he would “step back” as the LP first district chairman appointed by the party in favor of a free zone in the area to maximize votes for  Roxas’ presidential bid and the reelection bids of Gov. Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.

Davide later clarified that no appointment has been made for Gullas and that discussions were still ongoing about his role and that of Alayon as allies of the LP.

The entry of Alayon has upset LP members in the district who fear their  own campaign plans for 2016 would be set aside for Alayon candidates.

Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes, who is seeking reelection, urged party officials to give importance to the  loyalty of LP members over new allies like Alayon founded by  the Gullases who sided with their opponents in previous elections.

De los Reyes said his group is giving Governor Davide until Sept. 12 to decide whether to support Gullas or the old LP stalwarts.

On reports that Talisay City Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante has left LP, Ortega said he could not confirm this.

Villarante had said earlier that he is studying  whether to pledge allegiance instead  to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Jejomar Binay.

Villarante confirmed that a UNA official contacted him saying Binay wants to talk to him.