MALABUYOC Vice Mayor Lito Creus said the governor’s brothers Byron and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Winston Garcia “convinced” him and other mayors in a meeting to jump ship and support presidential candidate Manny Villar.
Creus said the mayors and other candidates who attended the meeting last April 16 signed the manifesto of support for Villar at Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa and were given P200,000 each as the first round of mobilization funds.
Creus, whose nomination for Lakas-Kampi-CMD and One Cebu was ordered revoked by the governor after he admitted his transfer to Villar’s camp, said the other mayors and officials who signed the manifesto “have no backbone.”
He said his former partymates also lied to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia during an emergency meeting with One Cebu mayors and vice mayors at Marco Polo Plaza Monday night that they remained committed to Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. even if they had affixed their signatures in the manifesto.
“Klaro kaayo to nga manifesto. Pagoryo-goryo ra na sila. Naa man sa heading (The manifesto clearly stated that it was for Villar. They’re just pretending to be still for Gibo),” he told Sun.Star Cebu in a phone interview.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, Byron, for the first time, said that he and his mother, retired judge Esperanza Garcia, are for Villar.
The governor said she is ready to condemn Villar on stage for breaking her family apart.
As for Byron, she said the move was personal.
“This is not out of love for Villar, this is out of hatred for me,” she said of Byron, a former Capitol consultant.
Villar, in a press conference in Cebu yesterday, refused to divulge how many mayors from One Cebu Party are now allied with him.
He will wait for the mayors to make the announcement.
He confirmed that his wife, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, met with several Cebu mayors.
When sought for comment on the governor’s statement that he is breaking up One Cebu and her family, Villar said he is not saying the Garcias will support him.
“My policy at present is to wait for the local leaders to announce whom they will support for president. Ever since, I did not wish to make enemies with anybody. I am just waiting for those who will support me,” Villar said.
He thanked Reps. Eduardo Gullas, Nerissa Soon-Ruiz and Cebu City mayoral candidate Alvin Garcia for supporting him.
But there are more candidates now allied with Villar, Creus said.
He said that Boljoon Mayor Deogenes “Wargong” Derama, Alcoy Mayor Nicomedes delos Santos, Ronda Vice Mayor Mariano Blanco III and Provincial Board (PB) Member Victor Maambong attended the meeting called by Villar.
Creus said among the candidates invited to the meeting, only Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos and Ginatilan Mayor Dean Michael Singco refused to sign the manifesto.
Sun.Star Cebu tried to contact Winston, Galeos, Singco, Derama and delos Santos for reaction but failed.
Meeting
Maambong reiterated that he did not sign the manifesto of support for Villar and instead wrote that a meeting with One Cebu party should be called. He also said he has no knowledge about the release of mobilization funds.
Blanco, in an interview, said he did not sign the manifesto but refused to comment on the funds given.
Creus said he is already prepared to return the mobilization funds given by One Cebu after the governor ordered him to return these.
The governor, in a meeting, said it is not possible for mayors or One Cebu candidates not to support Teodoro, because their nominations were signed by the
administration party.
But an ally of Villar, senatorial candidate Adel Tamano, who visited the governor yesterday, said the candidates who have jumped to their camp are not just after for the
money but are believers of Villar’s leadership and capability to run the country.
For her part, Mercy Apura, Carcar Association of Barangay Councils president, said nine barangay captains wanted to return the P10,000 initial mobilization funds from Villar’s camp but they don’t know where to return it.
Carcar City Vice Mayor Nicepuro Apura, who is running for mayor, said he returned the money to Villar’s camp last April 14.
He said he was misled into signing the manifesto because he was never informed about the meeting.
He said he doesn’t want to be involved in a controversy again after he was caught signing the manifesto; so he decided to return the money.
Meanwhile, Byron denied he threatened One Cebu mayoral bets that if they do not support Villar, the funding would go to their opponents.
Nelson and Marlon said they were threatened by Byron.
But Byron said it was his brothers who asked that their opponents not be given funding. Nelson, though, denied this, saying with or without funding, he is for Teodoro.
Byron said that his explanation is more logical because his brothers have opponents from the Villar camp.
“You can say anything in politics, it’s normal. And Gwen has a penchant for picking on me. I’m her favorite whipping boy,” said Byron, who lost his post as Capitol consultant after the governor refused to renew his contract.
The governor, however, said there is no need to talk about the rift in her family.
Her brother, Rep. Pablo John, said it’s best for them to settle the matter internally.
“If there are other family members that support other presidential candidates, Noynoy (Benigno Aquino III) or Nicanor Perlas, then you have to leave it at that. I’m sure
there is not 100 percent unanimity in any family on whom to support. Even Kris Aquino’s son does not share her choice for president,” said Pablo John.
As for Winston, Pablo John said he is not sure if his older brother is for Villar. Winston, he earlier said, wants to be non-partisan. (JGA/RSA/EOB)