To win at all cost

What happened to Jun Pelaez of Lapu-Lapu City and San Fernando Mayor Abe Canoy, who were dropped by the  Liberal Party, was unfortunate but was expected especially if the intention LP leaders is  to win at all cost.

Pelaez and Canoy, both  original party members, were not  issued certificates of nomination by the Liberal Party. The nomination went to their opponents who were not LP members in the 2010 election – Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza and Rep.  Samsam  Gullas. But the incidents were not new. It happened before to  Liberal Party card holder Mayor Mike Rama of Cebu City who was dumped in in favor of Rep. Tomas Osmeña in 2013.  The Liberal Party threw its principles out  the window. And it’s happening again today.

Recently the Benitezes and their  supporters  left the party because their  mayors were opposed by candidates supported by the Liberal Party. Little by little, aberrations in the party are being exposed. Some of its loyal members are leaving  to support other presidential candidates. It seems  the “Daang Matuwid” of the Aquino administration is more of a propaganda tool and not a genuine ideal  espoused by its leaders. This will  cost the Liberal Party  a lot in next year’s election.

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In Mandaue City, it’s final: Rep. Luigi Quisumbing is running for Mandaue  City mayor with former vice mayor Carlo Fortuna as his running mate against Councilor Lolypop Ouano and Councilor Beethoven Andaya.

Ouano  is hounded by the issue of alleged graft and corruption  during the term of her father Thadeo Ouano although Ted Ouano has  never been convicted.

Lolypop’s advantage is her roots in Mandaue City, which is known to be  clannish and consistent about favoring one of its own. Quisumbing has a clean, untarnished record.  It’s  difficult to say who will win the mayoralty seat. It’s up to the people to decide  on the basis of issues.

Both vice mayoralty bets aren’t linked to graft cases.  Fortuna, a former  vice mayor, used to be an ally of Mayor Ted Ouano and  opposed to Mayor Jonas Cortes. Now it’s Cortes and Fortuna.

On his last term as mayor, Cortes is running for  congressman in the 6th district against the controversial Paulus Cañete.

Someone asked me about the chances of former congresswoman Nerissa Soon-Ruiz against Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale in Mandaue City. I think the One Cebu party is hoping  Soon-Ruiz can solidify the votes in Mandaue City  as a true-blue daughter of the city and to offset the advantage of votes for Magpale who comes from  the vote-rich 5th district in north Cebu.

The advantage of the Liberal Party in Cebu is that it has more incumbent local officials in its fold than One Cebu.  LP hopes party mates  stick it out with  Davide and Magpale.

In the 1st  district, while Gullas of Alayon is not an LP member,  Samsam Gullas is the one supported by the Liberals for congressman even without a  certificate of nomination.

But one was given to  Mayor JVR of Talisay City even as  the Alayon party is supporting the Davide-Magpale tandem.

In the 2nd district, Rep. Willy Caminero of the Liberal Party is up against One Cebu’s candidate, former Provincial Board Member Tersita Celis.

In the 3rd district,  One Cebu has reelectionist Rep. Gwen Garcia being challenged by PB Member  Gigi Sanchez. One concern of  Sanchez is that she doesn’t have  radio station Bantay Radyo to help her in the campaign.

In the 4th district, Rep.  Benhur Salimbangon is supported by  One Cebu party and running against Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. It’s  going to be a tough battle in the 4th district because Martinez will put up a good fight  especially now that Martinez has a radio station, dyCM,  to help his campaign.

The 5th district  Congressman Ace Durano isn’t running for office; he’s  going to concentrate on campaigning for Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero.

Now what happens  to the alliance of the Liberal Party and the Bakud party of the Duranos?  Ace revealed that the family is committed to support the Davide-Magpale tandem  in the province but still has tried to decide who to support for president.

Ace still has to convince other members of the Bakud party to support the Poe-Escudero tandem although his father and brother stand by his decision.

So now it’s Red Durano running for congress in the 5th district. It will be smooth sailing for Red because the man Winston Garcia wanted to run against the Duranos, Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco, decided instead to be the running mate of his wife Cristina Garcia Frasco,  who is running for mayor of Liloan town.