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.