Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Finding right candidate v. Gwen ‘biggest problem of opposition’
IT is not raising funds but finding the right candidate that is the main problem of the opposition.
Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia said this yesterday in reaction to the statement of former governor Vicente de la Serna that Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia may not have an opponent in the May 14 elections for lack of funds.
“I think funds are a secondary concern. The primary concern really is whether you can find somebody as qualified to run the province as Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. If you find somebody who is as charismatic, as popular and as good a performer, then the funds will come. If you are a good candidate, money will just pour in,” said Pablo John, Gwendolyn’s younger brother.
De la Serna said in a radio interview that since is it is mid-term elections, national candidates will not dispense funds to local candidates.
Still popular
He also said it is not easy to campaign throughout the province as it will need some P80 to P100 million.
But Rep. Antonio Yapha (Cebu, 3rd district) said that in the survey that they have made in his district, former governor Lito Osmeña remains popular among the people.
Yapha told Sun.Star Cebu that his group with senatorial bet John “Sonny” Osmeña and the mayors who are his allies will meet soon and they will go to Lito to convince him to run against Gwendolyn.
Lito, Sonny’s brother, was governor from 1988 to 1992. He later ran for vice president and then president but lost in both attempts.
Pablo John, who is also seeking the third congressional district seat, said if Lito will challenge Gwendolyn this May, she will continue to “work as hard” and “we’ll see who the people will choose.”
He also said that they are glad that Gwendolyn and her newly launched party One Cebu had left the ruling Lakas party as the administration party is “confusing.”
He pointed out that Lakas spokesman Elberto Emphasis recently had a meeting with Sonny while the Yaphas, who said they belong to the administration, “continue to take orders from Sonny” who is running for Senate under the opposition ticket.
“Very confused politics in Cebu. Maybe it’s the confusion that resulted from the whirlwind that is One Cebu,” Pablo John said. (MBG)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 21, 2007 issue)
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