She also announced yesterday that Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. has accepted her invitation for him to be his runningmate, so it will be a “Gasa” (Garcia-Sanchez) lead tandem for the One Cebu party.
Also, Garcia disclosed that the Bangon Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud), a district party that the Duranos organized in Cebu’s fifth congressional district, will align with the One Cebu party.
Earlier, Rep. Eduardo Gullas revealed that Alayon party, which controls the first district and of which he is president, will also coalesce with Garcia’s One Cebu.
This means Garcia will be supporting the reelection of Gullas and Rep. Red Durano.
She also said she will be behind the reelection bid of Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district), “on the condition that the agreement between the Ouanos and the Soons will hold.”
Soon-Ruiz was with former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña in the last elections, but Garcia said she maintained a good relationship with Soon-Ruiz, being fellow graduates of St. Theresa’s College.
The governor’s father, former governor Pablo Garcia, will seek the second district congressional seat against Provincial Board Member Carmiano Kintanar. Her brother, Pablo John, is running for Congress in the third district against Provincial Board Member Estrella Yapha.
In the fourth district, the governor refused to reveal who will run for Congress against Bogo Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, whose mother Clavel currently represents the district in the Lower House.
“The feedback that we’re getting from the fourth district is that the anti-Martinez sentiment has spread in what was once considered an impregnable fortress in the district. Not only cracks, nagsugod nag kapulpog (it’s starting to fall apart),” she said.
From having only Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot as ally in the fourth district in the last elections, Garcia now has Medellin Mayor Manreza Lim, Bantayan Mayor Geralyn Escario and Madridejos Mayor Lety Mancio.
Former congressman Junie Martinez announced that they will have a strong slate for the provincial seats, but refused to divulge names, saying it will be “a surprise.”
Martinez also told GMA 7 that the details of Sonny Osmeña’s candidacy will not be known until Feb. 15, and that there’s still a chance the former senator will run for governor.(JPM)
