CEBU CITY -- Members of One Cebu will convene on Saturday, November 28, for the announcement of the party’s presidential bet.

Officials who want to be part of the newly recognized political party will also take oath on the same day, while certificates of nomination will also be signed.

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Allied parties Alayon and Bakud are also invited to join the convention.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, One Cebu chairperson, is also expected to choose a vice gubernatorial bet during that time from a pool of qualified personalities whom she would not name as of yet.

She thanked Provincial Board (PB) Member Jose Ma. Gastardo for offering himself as a possible running mate.

But in the next few days, Gwendolyn will iron out the situation in the sixth district when there are at least four allied members who intend to run for Congress -- PB Member Victor Maambong, former Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano, former PB member Luigi Quisumbing and businessman Glenn Soco.

Earlier, there were reports about Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano running for governor against Gwendolyn.

But the governor said she has invited Bakud, the party of the Duranos – Secretary Ace, Representative Ramon “Red” Durano VI and Danao City Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III (Cebu, 5th district), to the convention and will even meet with them Tuesday.

The same goes with the party of Representative Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district), Alayon, which Gwendolyn also invited to the convention and for a meeting Tuesday.

“These are two parties with which we have had a strong alliance in 2007,” said Gwendolyn in a press conference Monday.

It will be in that convention that One Cebu, which was formally recognized as a political party last November 17, will announce its presidential bet.

Rumors are circulating, though, that support would go to resigned Defense secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro because of the Garcias’ closeness to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose ruling Lakas-CMD-Kampi party has already endorsed Teodoro.

Even Representative Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) admitted in an earlier interview that One Cebu is committed to the President, although he did not mention endorsing Teodoro.

The congressman also admitted meeting with Senator Loren Legarda who was soliciting for his support and that of One Cebu.

Governor Garcia, for her part, also confirmed that Legarda sought her support but that One Cebu’s endorsement would be limited to the presidential bet during the Saturday’s convention.

The most important criterion for a presidential bet is loyalty to One Cebu, said Gwendolyn.

She said it would be premature to endorse a complete slate when everything is too fluid, considering that parties have not released their complete list of candidates for national positions.

One Cebu though will be revealing its complete slates for municipal and component city positions as well as the provincial posts by that time.

“We will be calling all our One Cebu original members as well as those who have indicated their desire to join, and we have decided to accept them and they’ll be taking their oaths as members of the One Cebu party,” the governor said.

But when asked if original member and party vice chairman Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez is invited to the convention, Gwendolyn said, “And those that have not resigned. Those that are still members.”

Pablo John added, “Those with good standing.”

After not being consulted on impending entry of Tuburan Mayor Constancio Suezo and Vice Mayor Rosemarie Suezo to One Cebu, Sanchez announced his intention to resign from the party.

“I’m not in the habit of releasing statements to the media that I would not intend to follow through. His pronouncement that he’s considering himself resigned from One Cebu as very well reported by the tri-media should be as good as it is. A statement of one who is of rational mind, then I should believe (it),” said Gwendolyn.

She cited the number of officials who want to join One Cebu.

Gwendolyn also admitted having a hard time looking for a running mate because of the huge pool to choose from.

“(It) is under very serious consideration by the party... The thing is, there are so many of them who are qualified, very competent, with excellent track record, winnable, and most of all, with the passion to serve,” said Gwendolyn.

She thanked Gastardo for announcing his availability to run as the governor’s running mate.

“Gastardo has served the province for nine years in a very independent capacity. Sometimes he defers or agrees with my opinion. As it is, I’m very careful in choosing for a running mate. I’m not only looking at the present but the next three years,” she said.

The range is from the mayors to PB members and to private individuals who are as qualified to serve.

Pablo John admitted he has his own preference as to who his sister should run with but would prefer to keep it to himself so as not to put the governor in a tight spot. (JGA of Sun.Star Cebu)