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Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Soon-Ruiz withdraws support for Martinez
By Rose O. Verzosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
A GOOD soldier that she is, Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz is following Sen. John “Sonny” Osmeña in supporting the gubernatorial bid of his son, Vice Gov. John Gregory “John-John” Osmeña, as she withdraws her support for former congressman Celestino Martinez Jr.
She said even Cebu Reps. Antonio Yapha Jr. (3rd district) and Simeon Kintanar (2nd district) have also made similar commitment of support for John-John.
Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district) had committed to support Martinez’s gubernatorial bid because the senator also did so. But now that Sonny has decided to withdraw his support for Martinez on allegations that he employed dirty tactics against John-John, so did Soon-Ruiz and the other supporters of Sonny.
Although Sonny did not categorically ask her to support John-John, Soon-Ruiz said she understood that that is what the senator also wanted her to do.
Explain
Soon-Ruiz told Sun.Star yesterday that she already talked with Martinez’s wife, Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez, last week to explain her stand.
“We are really supporters of the senator so wherever he goes, we go. She (Clavel) said she understood my position,” said Soon-Ruiz.
She said Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza is supporting John-John as well, but the group’s candidate for mayor in Consolacion, Vice Mayor Teresa Alegado, will continue supporting Junie.
Soon-Ruiz said Alegado, who ran under Junie’s Independent Masa, is a “natural-Junie” supporter so they will not ask her to change political affiliation. Even then, Soon-Ruiz will still campaign for Alegado, who, in turn, will also support the congresswoman’s reelection bid.
Commitments
Sonny had said that for those who have made commitments to other gubernatorial candidates, he will “tolerate” the arrangement as long as the candidate is not Capitol consultant Gwen Garcia.
“I’m glad it happened this early because we have not yet started with the campaign and we have not yet actually campaigned for Junie on stage,” Soon-Ruiz told Sun.Star yesterday.
“I have full trust in the senator and I support him. I am a faithful soldier. I hope he (Sonny) will also support me and that he will not neglect me and reject me,” Soon-Ruiz added.
(February 11, 2004 issue)
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