Gwen ‘urged’ to stay in Cebu

THIRD district mayors and Provincial Board (PB) members who belong to the One Cebu Party held a closed-door meeting with Gov. Gwen Garcia and her brother Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) last Friday night.

The governor, chairperson of One Cebu, and the congressman, the party’s secretary general and gubernatorial candidate for next year, were mum about what was discussed.

But Asturias Mayor Allan Adlawan said they asked Gwen to forego her plan to run for the Senate and run for the third congressional seat instead.

“She is weighing up matters. There are so many things to be considered,” he said.

Confident

He said his colleagues in One Cebu agreed that the governor should stay in Cebu, including PB Member Alex Binghay of the third district, who had expressed his interest to run for the position.

“We are one party… All of us agreed,” Adlawan said, quoting Binghay.

Binghay had said he would give way to the governor if she decides to run for Congress.

Adlawan said the governor always listens to their sentiments and they are confident she will grant their request.

“We asked her to stay with us,” he said, adding that the governor will announce her decision soon.

Aside from Adlawan, Toledo City Mayor Aurelio Espinosa, Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno, Balamban Mayor Ace Stefan Binghay and PB Member Ceasar Ian Zambo were also at the meeting.

Different game

Meanwhile, Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha said she expects mayors in the third district to endorse Governor Gwen.

Yapha is the daughter of former congressman and Liberal Party (LP) district chair Antonio Yapha.

And if the LP nominates her to be its candidate for the third congressional seat, the mayor said it will be a good fight.

When asked if she is afraid to face the governor, she admitted Gwen will be a strong candidate and the latter has done a lot for the province in her three terms as governor.

“But the game is very different. One will never know unless we try. We will try our best. It is tough,” Yapha said.

Aside from Pinamungajan, the other towns in the third district are Aloguinsan, Asturias, Balamban, Barili, Tuburan, Tabuelan. Also in the district is Toledo City.