Duke eyes higher office; wife Christina for mayor?

With his third and last term ending, Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco will have to seek  higher office in 2016 if he wants to stay in politics.

In his place, his wife, Christina, may be fielded to run as the town’s next chief executive.

The name of Ma. Esperanza Christina, a lawyer and eldest daughter of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, has been floated as One Cebu’s mayoral candidate in Liloan for 2016.

Duke confirmed this, saying that she is being endorsed by barangay captains and party leaders.

In the 5th district of north Cebu, Liloan’s Frasco is the only mayor in the opposition. The district is dominated by town mayors of the Durano-backed Bakud party, whose alliance with the Liberal

Party in Cebu will support reelection bids of Gov. Hilario Davide III of LP and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale of Bakud

“A higher position is an option since I believe I can help and serve not just my town of Liloan. But, we will see come October 12,” Duke said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.

Options ahead for him include a seat in the Provincial Board, congress or  vice governor, as One Cebu standard bearer Winston Garcia is still looking for a running mate.

Frasco was faced with the abrupt defection of Liloan Vice Mayor Lucelito Pilapil who switched to the Barug alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) party last week.

The search for a running mate for Christina would be  part of efforts to finalize a lineup for Liloan in 2016.

Frasco said One Cebu and the Democracy of the Independent Liberal Concervative (DILC) remain strong despite the sudden exit of Pilapil.

“We have the unrelenting support of all eight of our municipal councilors, more than a majority of the barangay captains, and most importantly, all Liloanons who have felt the gains of this administration,” the mayor said.

The mayor, in a statement, said that he expected Vice Mayor Pilapil to seek reelection under One Cebu in 2016.

“As early as May 2015, Vice Mayor Lito committed to run for vice mayor under our party, since he is eligible for two more terms,” Frasco said but was told a month after by his trusted leaders that Pilapil had “changed loyalties.”

Pilapil was officially sworn into Bakud last Thursday.

Six councilors—one from Liloan, while others were from Catmon, Tudela, and Pilar—also took their oaths before Bakud president Ramon “Red” Durano VI and Danao City Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III, the party’s chairman emeritus.

Reporters tried to get a statement from Pilapil  during the oath taking ceremony at the Danao City Civic Center, but he would not comment on the matter.

Pilapil joined Frasco  in 2007 and worked together during all of Frasco’s three terms.

“Tungod kay ang akong tuyo ang papanerbisyo, layo sa akong huna-huna ang pamulitika. Beyond the lines of politics, I always considered Vice Mayor Lito a friend, so I thank him for his support in the past and I wish him well,” said Frasco.

Two weeks from now, aspiring candidates will start filing their  certificates of candidacy for the 2016 polls.