Nelson Garcia wins LMP polls

ANOTHER Garcia got a key position while the Liberal Party (LP) aims to put another representative in the Cebu Provincial Board (PB).

Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia replaced former Dumanjug Mayor Cesar Baricuatro as president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Cebu Chapter.

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Nelson of One Cebu, the brother of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, was unchallenged and was chosen, along with other officers of the LMP, during a caucus.

Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, who was earlier floated by the LP as a possible candidate for LMP president, was the lone opposition member in the list of officers.

But LP wants to clinch the top post in the PCL provincial federation elections this Aug. 4 despite the force of One Cebu, Gov. Garcia’s party.

Talisay City Councilor Romeo Villarante was selected by LP members yesterday to represent the party in the elections.

He is on his first term as legislator. He served as municipal legal officer and later, city legal officer, of Talisay.

But Villarante and Davide admitted they don't have the numbers.

Villarante said his objective is to give the minority a bigger voice in the PB. There are only two members of the minority in the PB—Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. and PB Member Arleigh Sitoy.

Gov. Garcia criticized LP provincial chairman Hilario “Junjun” Davide III for saying Councilor Julius Alegado will be LP’s candidate.

She talked to Mayor Alegado, the mother of Julius, yesterday and learned from her they have turned down LP’s offer to field Julius.

"But I don't think it's fair. You speak for someone who does not share the same view.

It's not only unfair, it's untruthful (and) is euphemistically saying you're telling a lie," the governor said of Davide, who ran against her in the May 10 elections.

Meanwhile, Sanchez said about four to six One Cebu councilors have defected to LP.

But Sanchez was only able to present two councilors to the media during a gathering yesterday. They were Moalboal Councilors Raymond Mendoza and Hamabar Mahinay.

Both said they were junked by the Lakas-Kampi-CMD/One Cebu party five days before the May 10 elections.

Former Moalboal mayor, now Councilor Yvonne Cabaron said, “They know why they were junked.”

Moalboal Mayor Inocentes Cabaron admitted junking the two councilors because they learned a week before the elections the two councilors were for Davide, who challenged Gov. Garcia, and were supporting President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, then LP standard-bearer.

Inocentes said it was a collective decision of One Cebu allies, including barangay captains and barangay councilors of Moalboal.

Mahinay also admitted he was for Davide from the start.

Former Dalaguete Mayor Andrade Alcantara attended yesterday's LP consultative meeting.

He admitted he was hurt he was not chosen by One Cebu as its lone candidate for mayor.

Gov. Garcia chose not to formally endorse a candidate for mayor in Dalaguete. While Alcantara's certificate of candidacy was signed by One Cebu, Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante carried the endorsement of Lakas. Cesante won.

But Gov. Garcia denied Sanchez’s claim that One Cebu mayors are shifting alliances.

After the LMP elections yesterday, the governor congratulated the new set of officers.

She then criticized Sanchez for his claims.

“This is one united league, wala na’y color. Just because one old person says it, it does not make it a wise statement, much less a true statement,” the governor told the reporters yesterday.

She then turned to the mayors and said, “Mamalhin mo? (Are you defecting?)

The mayors answered, “No.”

“Did anyone transfer?” Asturias Mayor Alan Adlawan said.

Sogod Mayor Lisa Marie Durano and Samboan Mayor Raymond Calderon said Sanchez’s claims were unverified.

“Kani, mo-One Cebu napud ni (This one's joining One Cebu),” the governor joked at Tuburan Mayor Aljun Diamante, a member of the LP.

Alegado, another LP ally, said LP chose not to field a slate for the LMP elections because the organization is non-partisan.

Out of the 50 mayors in the Province, only six are from LP.

Only 44 Cebu Province mayors, though, are members of the LMP.

There were eight mayors who failed to attend the elections yesterday.

Nelson, in winning the LMP elections, said he will be the mayors' bridge to the governor and the congressmen.

The governor and Nelson’s father is Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, 2nd district) and they are the siblings of Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd).

Meanwhile, in the LP consultative assembly yesterday, they chose around 15 councilors who will meet and prepare a slate for the provincial federation elections. Villarante will run for president and Pinamungajan Councilor Jeffrey Anthony Yapha will vie for the vice president’s post.

One Cebu is fielding Danao City Councilor Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca for president and Talisay City Councilor Eduardo “Digul” Gullas III for vice president. (With RSA)