ALTHOUGH he admitted that he came to Cebu to meet local political leaders, Sen. Manuel Villar, the standard-bearer of the Nacionalista Party, yesterday refused to discuss local politics, something he described as “very complicated.”

“It’s very dangerous to deal with local politics (in Cebu),” Villar told the local media in a get-together lunch forum arranged by businessman Fernando “Ding” Borja.

This, as he also refused to answer questions on whether he would be choosing either Sens. Loren Legarda or Francis “Chiz” Escudero as his vice president.

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Villar, however, did not elaborate on why he described Cebu politics as complicated and dangerous to deal with. He was even careful enough not to mention the names of any Cebu politician.

The senator also said that the Nacionalista Party (NP) already has a complete lineup for 2010—president, vice president and 12 senators.

“To be fair to everybody, I will let my party (Nacionalista) announce the complete slate at the right time and at the right place. Maybe on Nov. 20,” Villar said, when pressed to name his vice president.

One of NP’s senatorial candidates, Adel Tamano, has said that his party has allocated six senatorial seats, while the remaining six slots are reserved for other political parties that will coalesce with them for the 2010 elections.

Meanwhile, in an 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Hotel last Nov. 3, Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu Province, 1st district) said that while he is very close to Villar and once committed his support for the latter’s presidential bid, he remains a member of Lakas-Kampi-CMD since 2007 and is committed to the reelection of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Although Lakas-Kampi-CMD has yet to hold a formal convention to name candidates for president, vice president and senators, it has unofficially announced that its standard-bearer is Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

Gullas said that if ever he will differ with the Garcias in the choice of whom to support for president, his decision could not sever his political ties in the local level. Gullas is inclined to support Villar, while the Garcias are likely to support Teodoro.

Gullas said that if ever he has another presidential candidate to support other than the one being supported by the Garcias, he will work hard so that both his presidential candidate and Governor Garcia will win in his district.

The governor’s brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu Province, 3rd district), who was with Gullas in the same forum, said that national politics has not dictated local politics for several elections already.