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Sunday, January 08, 2006
Guardo braces for House race
By Gingging A. Campaña
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Now it can be told: Jonathan Guardo is running for congressman of Cebu City’s south district.
Guardo, the chairman of the Cebu Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (CebuSOC) who has been the subject of Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s ire in recent weeks, confirmed yesterday he will run against Rep. Antonio Cuenco next year.
Like his brother, Sambag I Barangay Captain Jerry Guardo, Jonathan will be running “as an underdog” against an incumbent. Both brothers have also not held any elective post in the past.
Jonathan, 36, will be the 69-year-old Cuenco’s second challenger, next to lawyer Aristotle Batuhan, who ran but lost against the congressman in the 2001 and 2004 elections. It’s not known yet whether will Batuhan will try his luck again.
Jonathan first told Sun.Star Cebu sports columnist Homer Sayson that he is eyeing the post in the 2007 elections, even if it means running as a virtually unknown candidate.
“With hard work, dedication and commitment to that ambition, I might be able to gather momentum before the end of the year. Basin dili lang sila angay mokumpyansa (Perhaps they shouldn’t underestimate me),” he said.
Transfer
His admission will now confirm talks that his political plan has been one reason for the mayor’s ranting against him on the accounting of the SEA Games funds.
“He (Osmeña) has heard reports even before the SEA Games. He even warned me. Since talks are already circulating, I might as well make it public,” he told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Despite his confirmation and its repercussions, Jonathan said he is not worried his friendship with Osmeña has turned sour.
“Anyway, I’m not a member of the BO-PK (Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan),” he said.
Initially, Jonathan said, he planned to seek a congressional seat in Surigao, with the prodding of his mother and his uncle, Rep. Prospero Pichay (Surigao del Sur, first district), who is also on his last term.
“But since I am based in Cebu City, I might as well run in the south district,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan also said he is confident of his chances since he has been involved in politics and has participated in every election since 1992, having helped in the campaign of his mother, Mayor Tomasa Guardo of Cantilan town, the largest municipality in Surigao del Sur.
Underdog
“It’s the same thing with my mother and Jerry, even my uncle. Nobody thought we would run. Nobody gave Jerry a chance. Like them, I will be 10 to 1, an underdog,” he told Sun.Star Cebu in a phone interview yesterday.
Jonathan will not reveal which political party he will be running under and who his local and national supporters are, but he is now talking to them.
“I was initially noncommittal but since it’s already election season, dali ra kaayo na ang preparations. Before yearend, it will be firmed up,” he said.
In a separate interview, Cuenco laughed off Jonathan’s announcement.
“I’m so happy about that. I’ll celebrate. It’s for the people to judge who’s the better man. They can compare his record and mine. The people of Cebu are intelligent. They can read the candidates’ credentials. They know what I have done for the people of Cebu. By all means, he’s welcome for a wider field of choice. Mas maayo for democracy,” the congressman told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 8, 2006 issue)
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