Garcia: Cebu is solid behind UNA

CEBU CITY -- Cebu will deliver the votes needed to catapult candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to the Senate, suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia assured on Tuesday.

"We have the most number of mayors, the most number of local government units, and the most number of incumbent officials and we remain strong to this day," she said.

Cebu has 2.5 million voters, which is the biggest among provinces in the Philippines.

However, Vice President Jejomar Binay, an UNA stalwart, heavily lost to then Senator Manuel Roxas II in the province in the 2010 elections, receiving over 320,000 votes. Roxas got a whopping 814,000 votes.

In an interview, Binay said his defeat in the province doesn't matter in considering Cebu as the site of its proclamation rally.

"The elections are over. I lost here but I did not hold a grudge. I am always here. That's the mark of UNA. We are always for unity," he said.

UNA senatorial candidates led by Senator Gregorio Honasan, former Tarlac Governor Margarita Cojuangco, Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay, San Juan Representative JV Ejercito, Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile, former Senators Richard Gordon, Ernesto Maceda and Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Nancy Binay were present at the rally held at the Plaza Independencia.

They were joined by members of the local One Cebu Party headed by Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Earlier in the day, UNA candidates heard mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral followed by a motorcade around the city.

"As much as possible, we shall refrain from throwing dirt against our political opposition, no personal attacks or insults whatsoever. Even though LP (Liberal Party) has been accusing UNA bets of being pretenders, they should first look at themselves. When PNoy (Aquino) assumed his post in 2010, was it not some of them who were already hot on the collar in criticizing him and his actions left and right?" said UNA secretary general Toby Tiangco. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)