6 lawmakers met with Cebu guv

Saturday, January 28, 2012

ALL six congressmen in the Province have agreed to remain “politically united” at the local level for the 2013 midterm elections, Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, second district) said Friday when asked what they talked about during their meeting last Thursday night at the Marco Polo Hotel with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

“We discussed the political weather. When politicians meet, they talk about politics,” he told Sun.Star Cebu in a phone interview.

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Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, third district) Rep. Red Durano (Cebu, fifth district) both said it was “a mere get-together.”

When asked to elaborate, Pablo John said they have always continued working together.

“Nothing has broken our alliance. Certainly not loose talk and wishful thinking can break it,” the governor’s younger brother said.

Harmony

Durano revealed the congressmen have been meeting regularly so “there will be harmony” and they would be updated on the developments in the Province.

The fifth district congressman is the nephew of Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, a member of Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) party, which is closely allied with the governor’s One Cebu Party.

Rep. Durano said the congressmen get together every now and then, and each district representative gives updates on his area and pinpoints what the Province can do to help.

Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, fourth district), in a GMA television interview, said he told the governor about his plans to turn his district into a tourist destination and an economic zone.

Durano said they met three to four times last year, and last Thursday was their first get-together for 2012.

Confirmed

The elder Garcia confirmed that all six representatives have been meeting regularly, whether in Manila or in Cebu, with the governor as host.

His opinion was also sought on Magpale’s statement that the administration’s Liberal Party (LP) has been courting Bakud and on reports that the LP wants Magpale to be their candidate in the 2013 election against the ruling One Cebu Party.

Pablo declined to comment, saying he does not know about it and this was never discussed in their meetings.

He explained, though, that One Cebu congressmen are with the administration at the national level, since their national party—the National Unity Party—has a coalition with LP.

Pablo also said his daughter also has an active communication line with Bakud's chairman, former congressman Nito Durano.

When asked if they talked about the 2013 elections in their meeting last Thursday, Rep. Durano said “nothing” was discussed on the matter.

“Si gov na lang ang pangutan-a (Ask the governor),” said Salimbangon.

Concern

Pablo said his daughter, Governor Garcia, expressed much concern for the unity between the mayors, congressmen and barangay officials, especially since her term will end in 2013.

However, Pablo expressed confidence that his colleagues will keep their promise until election day, since he finds no reason why they should not be united.

He said forming alliances in Cebu is not new, and they have been doing it for the past two elections.

In the 2010 elections, One Cebu was able to form an alliance with the Bakud Party of the Duranos in the fifth district and Alayon party of Rep. Eduardo Gullas in the first district, Pablo said.

They supported different candidates at the national level but remained united at the local level.

In the 2010 elections, the governor prevailed against her opponent, LP candidate Hilario Davide III.

The late Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez, Davide’s runningmate, prevailed over Garcia’s running mate Glen Soco.

Sanchez eventually succumbed to lung cancer and Magpale, the first Cebu Provincial Board member, took his place as the vice governor.