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Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Guv, Junie agree to protest ties
By Jeanette P. Malinao Sun.Star Staff Reporter With Lorenzo P. Niñal, Elias O. Baquero
& Ramon Jaluag
THE much-opposed move to refuse the local Lakas and NPC brought two warring officials together, as Gov. Pablo Garcia and Agriculture Undersecretary Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. agreed to lead a “brewing rebellion” against the plan.
For the first time after a fierce quarrel that started two years ago, Garcia and Martinez agreed on an issue and decided, through emissaries, to draft a manifesto against the coalition and present this in today’s scheduled covenant signing.
It was their “love” for the Lakas party and the desire to protect its interests that brought them together, Garcia told Sun.Star last night.
It remains unknown, though, if this development will lead to a tandem between Junie and the governor’s daughter, Capitol consultant Gwendolyn Garcia, for Capitol’s top positions next year.
Because of the protests from both local Lakas factions, national party leaders held an emergency meeting in Malacañang late last night to decide whether to go ahead with the signing.
Objection
The objection to the Lakas alliance with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) might cancel the covenant signing or President Arroyo might decide not to come to Cebu.
“We will not support it because if push comes to shove, these people could not be trusted. Persona non grata nang mga tawhana diri sa Cebu and we can’t be on the same platform with them,” said Garcia.
He was referring to Reps. Ace Durano, Nerissa Soon-Ruiz and Simeon Kintanar, who failed to stand up for Cebuano Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. in his impeachment case.
Garcia is Lakas provincial chairman while Martinez is secretary general for Cebu.
The common complaint of Garcia and Martinez against the covenant that’s supposed to be signed today is the fact that they were not consulted, and that it will displace local Lakas members.
“This is so sudden. We were not even informed. I cannot in conscience preside over the disintegration of the local Lakas. We are already split Daan na gani ming gubot muapil pa gyud ang NPC sa selection process,” said Garcia.
Too late
For Junie, any proposal for unity or coalition between Lakas and NPC is a bit too late. “This should have been done earlier,” he said.
It’s all set for him and Provincial Board (PB) Member Gregorio Sanchez as tandem for Capitol in 2004, Martinez added.
The manifesto junking the proposed covenant, which Garcia said was coursed through the “back-door,” would be their “answer” to the plan that will put Lakas at a “disadvantage.”
Garcia already told Gabby Claudio, one of the President’s political advisers, of the “unfortunate” situation. He also advised Claudio “not to do anything in Cebu without consultations.”
The governor, however, assured he will attend the gathering with the President, citing “protocol.”
President Arroyo is set to visit Cebu today to see to the formation of a committee that will determine who among Cebu’s leaders will run under the coalition party.
The group of Junie will snub the gathering as a sign of protest. They will, however, send Rep. Clavel Martinez as representative and as “courtesy” to the President.
Junie said he has no business to be in the launching. “Wa koy role diha. Why should they invite me? I am not a mayor. I am not a congressman. Why should I go?”
President’s wisdom
But PB Member Josefi-na Asirit, who is close to NPC secretary general and Cebu Rep. Ace Durano, said the alliance “comes from the President.”
“It’s already difficult to question the wisdom of the President’s actions. And I’m sure whether the proposal came from Ace or whoever, Malacañang will not take it at face value without anything to support it,” said Asirit.
Durano and the fifth district’s two PB members and mayors will attend today.
PB Member Estrella Yapha also disclosed that her husband, Rep. Antonio Yapha, will lead mayors of the 3rd district to the gathering.
She said Sen. John “Sonny” Osmeña has given them the go-signal to attend the formalization of the alliance between NPC and Lakas in the local level.
Both Yapha and Durano have been with Osmeña in the Alayon-NPC group during the last elections. Osmeña, however, had declared Alayon dead and has had negotiations with the President for him to join the administration.
Talisay City Mayor Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas and his younger brother Rep. Jose “Dodong” Gullas, although they don’t belong to either Lakas or NPC, were invited to attend the covenant signing.
“Anything that is good for Cebu, Dodong and I will surely be in it,” said Eddiegul, who is closely identified with NPC chairman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., in a phone interview last night.
For his part, Kintanar said those who do not want the coalition may not be for Arroyo at all. He will lead second district mayors to the gathering.
However, mayors allied with Garcia will not attend.
Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Felix Guanzon, meanwhile, denied any hand in the proposed tandem of Vice Gov. John-john Osmeña and Bogo Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III for Capitol’s top post.
“I don’t know anything about it. I only learned about it in the newspapers,” Guanzon said of the proposed tandem.
It was Guanzon who extended the invitation to today’s covenant signing to “all mayors, board members, representatives, the governor, all of them.”
(December 10, 2003 issue)
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