UNA, One Cebu kick off Cebu campaign

THE opposition party United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and local group One Cebu will coalesce in a grand assembly at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel today.

Vice President Jejomar Binay will lead UNA party stalwarts, including vice-presidential candidate Sen. Gringo Honasan and at least six senatorial bets, while gubernatorial candidate Winston Garcia and Cebu 3rd district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia will lead One Cebu.

The grand assembly comes a week after UNA officially kicked off its campaign in the slums of Mandaluyong City, where thousands of supporters came and cheered for Binay and his slate.

For the Cebu event, up to 4,000 people may be accommodated at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, UNA regional coordinator, could not attend the event since he is in Manila for an oral argument on the calamity aid case before the Court of Appeals.

Toledo City Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, who earlier said the alliance between One Cebu and UNA expands Binay’s clout in the province, was also invited to the event since he is supporting the vice president.

However, he decided not to attend after finding out that Garcia had no plans for Toledo City.

In a phone interview with Cebu Daily News, Mayor Osmeña said he felt aggrieved by Garcia’s “thoughtless and unconcerned” plans as far as his city is concerned.

Mayor Osmeña took his frustration to Facebook and posted a photo of a news item about Garcia presenting his plans to residents of Liloan.

Osmeña said he is an independent, so he is not inclined to support Garcia nor Liberal Party standard-bearer Gov. Hilario Davide III.

Osmeña said Garcia’s lack of vision for Toledo City will heavily dictate whom he will support for governor.

But he said he fully supports the reelection bid of Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia.

UNA candidates who have confirmed attendance  were Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas, Parañaque

Councilor and actress Alma Moreno, Princess Jacel Kiram, broadcaster Rey Langit, and labor lawyer Allan Montaño.

One Cebu announced its support for UNA just two weeks ago.

Winston Garcia said the UNA-One Cebu partnership is the result of “a series of consultations with Cebuanos from all walks of life and from all sectors of society.”

He said the choice for president in those consultative meetings was an “overwhelming yes” for Binay.

Garcia said he and the vice president both believe that there should be focus on a platform-based campaign. Among Garcia’s grand plans for Cebu, should he be elected governor, are airports, a  Light Railway Transit (LRT) system and reclamation projects.

In a press statement, Garcia said Binay has already contributed so much to Cebu’s progress and development even while he was still Makati mayor.

“In those days, Binay helped facilitate priority projects in the province like the provision of free medicine and medical care for the sick in government district hospitals and granting special privileges for the elderly and persons with disabilities,” Garcia said in the statement. His sister, Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, was then governor.