Last Friday it was reported that Bakud, the political party in Cebu’s 5th district founded by the Duranos, has decided to support the candidacies of Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero for president and vice president.
Bakud is dropping Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas and his running-mate Leni Robredo while maintaining its support for local LP incumbents Cebu Gov. Junjun Davide and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who belongs to the Durano clan.
The loss of support from this important bailiwick is indeed prejudicial to the administration. Will other political groups follow suit? Will the Alayon party of Gullas in the 1st district take this course as well?
I don’t think Alayon will abandon LP because of the special relationship of Rep. Eduardo Gullas with the Roxases especially that his grandson Rep. Samsam Gullas is also very close to presidential bet Mar Roxas. That is as it stands today. I don’t know if that arrangement would hold through in the next few weeks when it becomes clearer who leads the surveys in the presidential race. An election is also an opportunity for local candidates to pursue their political survival.
Rep. Willy Caminero of the 2nd district who is allied with the Liberal Party supports its presidential bet. He doesn’t face a strong challenge in his area for reelection. Rep. Gwen Garcia of the 3rd district is a member of the opposition UNA. She faces a serious challenge from LP Provincial Board Member Gigi Sanchez. In the 4th district, Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, who is supporting the gubernatorial candidacy of Winston Garcia, faces a serious challenge from Bogo Mayor Junie Martinez.
The 5th district is Bakud’s call.
The 6th district, which includes Mandaue City, is solid turf of the Liberal Party with Rep. Luigi Quisumbing running for mayor in Mandaue City while Mayor Jonas Cortes is running for Congress.
Quisumbing faces a serious challenge from the no. 1 councilor Lollypop Ouano Dizon and the Ouano clan.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza is seeking reelection under the Liberal Party, so is duty-bound to support Mar Roxas. Her daughter Congresswoman Aileen Radaza is facing a serious challenge from former Cordova mayor Celedonio Sitoy who is running for congress in the lone district of Lapu-Lapu City.
All in all, the political battles in the Province of Cebu are too close to call with no local candidate having the inside track. What I know is that both Winston Garcia and Gov. Junjun Davide are campaigning hard to win the Capitol seat. Garcia has been putting out political ads in TV, very noticeable during the live coverage of Sinulog festival.