FORMER congressman Jose “Dodong” Gullas has no intention to run for Cebu City mayor at this time, but he said he is not closing his doors on politics.
And when he decides to run against Mayor Tomas Osmeña in the May 14 elections, Gullas will be ready to face any issue, including the South Road Properties (SRP).
In a radio dySS interview yesterday, Gullas admitted that unlike the incumbent mayor, he does not have political machinery in the city.
“I have no intention to run at this point, but I will consider everything. Wala pa nako gisiradan ang kahigayunan. My concern is my family and the university, which is our own legacy. As for politics, I will still have to study that carefully,” he said in the radio interview.
He further said that he will have to consult his brother, Rep. Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas, and his family members about his possible candidacy, especially since it will be inevitable that the operations of the university will be affected if he becomes mayor.
Gullas, a registered voter in Cebu City and a resident of Barangay Guba, sits as president in the family-owned University of the Visayas (UV).
“The incumbent mayor has the machinery, ako wala intawon. The important thing if I run is financing,” he said.
When asked about his chances of running in a scale of one to 10, Gullas said his chances would be five. “I may or I may not run. Anyway there are other ways to serve the public,” he continued.
While he has yet to decide on his political plans, the former first district congressman already pointed out some problems in the city that needs to be addressed, including the illegal drugs problem.
He also said that roads in the mountain barangays and peace and order need to be improved.
In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña admitted that the administration was not able to eliminate the drugs problem.
“Of course it’s a problem but as you can see, while drugs will never disappear, we have made several inroads there and many drug lords were arrested. Is the drug problem the only thing you solve when you’re mayor? There are so many things to do,” he said.
Politicians involved in narcopolitics must be exposed for the public to know, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said.
She urged government agencies concerned to reveal the names of politicians involved so that the public can be guided in choosing the right candidates in the next elections.
In a radio interview, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) Chief Amado Marquez confirmed that they are monitoring three illegal drug personalities who are known to be supporting some politicians.
The names of these personalities have also cropped up during the previous elections.
Drug lords usually pour out their money for the election of some politicians, and get protection in exchange.
“I call on PDEA and other law enforcement agencies to see to it that narcopolitics does not rear its evil head during the elections here in Cebu. I would expect that politicians involved in such kind of heinous acts should and must be exposed,” said Garcia.
She is also head of the Regional Peace and Order Council.
“They must be exposed (so the public would know whom not to vote for),” she added.
A church-based organization is now formulating guidelines for voters to use during the May elections and their particular concerns include narcopolitics and graft and corruption.
Fr. Carmelo Diola, “coordinating steward” for the Dilaab movement, had said they are now finalizing five questions as guidelines.
Dilaab comprises three groups: Kamatuoran Inc., Barug Pilipino and Friends of Pedro.
The group will campaign against politicians linked to illegal drugs but they will not mention names in the campaign.
Their advocacy will be limited to asking questions that people will have to answer for themselves.
The questions will be printed on leaflets and will be distributed to the public just before the 2007 elections.
At City Hall, Osmeña said he will not oppose the candidacy of Gullas or any other candidate who will run against him in the elections.
Even if he can find technical irregularities in Gullas’ candidacy, the mayor said he will not make it an issue.
“I’m not going to prevent anyone from filing their candidacy. I won’t even apply any technicality to anyone who wants to run. Example, Sir Dodong, I can only question his transfer of voters’ registration six months before the elections. It’s supposed to be an area of dispute but I won’t dispute that,” he said.
But in an interview yesterday, City Election Office for the north district Marchel Sarno said the Election Registration Board already approved Gullas’ transfer of registration records after verifying that he met the requirement of at least one year residency in the city. (LCR/MBG)
