DESPITE the recent defection of some former allies to the opposition, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said there is no need to conduct loyalty checks within the Liberal Party (LP) ranks in the province.
Davide said he will still meet them before the start of the local campaign period on March 25.
“Our LP (members), based on my personal judgment and assessment, except those who left, are men of their word. They will deliver for Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo,” he told Cebu Daily News.
Campaign plans will be discussed and expectations will be set during the meeting, although the date and venue haven’t been finalized yet, Davide said.
Davide said he has “confidence and fullest trust” in his allies in the province.
Naga City Councilor Vince del Mar defected to the Garcia-led One Cebu, the day after the LP held a grand rally in Cebu with standard-bearer Mar Roxas, vice presidential bet Leni Robredo and President Benigno Aquino III in attendance.
Del Mar was supposed to be LP’s mayoral bet in the city, challenging incumbent Mayor Valdemar Chiong’s daughter, Christine.
The councilor’s slate also bolted from the party and joined One Cebu. Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes, after having been “snubbed” by LP’s honored guests, decided to bolt the party as well.
He backtracked and said he will stay with the LP, but will no longer support the candidacies of Roxas and Robredo.
“Well, I’m glad he changed his mind,” said Davide, although he has yet to speak to Delos Reyes personally after the fallout.
Delos Reyes and his family earlier suggested that they will be supporting Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for president instead.
Davide earlier said he will not make the first move, but that LP’s door is still “open.”
While Davide is firm that there is no need for a “loyalty check” among LP members in the province, Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante said he thinks otherwise.
Diamante, president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines Cebu Chapter, said there are areas in Cebu considered to be supportive of LP in the province but aren’t keen on throwing the same support for the party’s national bets.
“This year’s elections are unpredictable because the national candidates all have supporters in the province,” he said in a phone interview.
He cited as an example the Duranos in the 5th district, who are supporting Governor Davide and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale in their reelection bids, but are for Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero in the national polls.
The Durano-led Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BARUG) party is only allied with the LP in the province, but its members are not actually part of the administration-backed group.
He also said that in Cordova town in the 6th district, Mayor Adelino Sitoy is for Duterte.
Provincial Board (PB) Member Arleigh Sitoy, who will be challenging his sister Cordova Vice Mayor Maria Teresa “Techie” Sitoy for the mayoralty post this year, is also supporting Duterte but is backing One Cebu’s gubernatorial bet Winston Garcia.
Mayor Diamante said that Roxas is “solid” in the 4th district, under the leadership of Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr.
The 3rd district, on the other hand, is torn between Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay, since the Garcias in the area are his allies.
Diamante said while the Gullases in the 1st district have expressed support for Roxas even though they are not members of LP, they still have to work hard to deliver votes.