Friday, February 23, 2007
Junie Martinez to run in Bogo, taking him out of guv race
FORMER congressman Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. yesterday announced his candidacy for mayor of Bogo town in northern Cebu.
His wife, Rep. Clavel Martinez, is not ruling out running for governor against Cebu Gov. Gwen-dolyn Garcia this May.
When asked about the matter during a meeting with her leaders in the fourth district at the White Gold House yesterday, Martinez pointed out that March 29, the last day of filing of certificates of candidacy, is still far away.
The Martinezes said they are with Lakas party, which Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia recently left.
Show of force
It was a show of force for the Martinez family, whose control over what was once a solid fourth district was marred by the change of loyalty of their former allies: Madridejos Mayor Lety Mancio, Bantayan Mayor Geralyn Escario and Medellin Mayor Manreza Lim.
It will be Bogo Mayor Celestino “Tining” Marti-nez III who will seek to replace his mother at the House of Representatives.
He may be up against former Provincial Board member Benhur Salimba-ngon, the expected congressional candidate of their rival party, One Cebu.
Even if they don’t see eye to eye on the land swap issue, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will still support Governor Garcia’s reelection bid.
Garcia will still have the mayor’s support if his cousin, former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, runs for governor.
“I will still support Gwen. I have 5,000 families that I want to protect but I have nothing against Gwen. I just want to protect these families. Gawas niana, I have no problem with her,” Osmeña told a news conference yesterday.
Junie ran against Gar-cia in the 2004 elections.
Allies
Those who were present at the Martinezes’ gathering were their allies and candidates in the different municipalities in the fourth district: Provincial Board Member Jose Ma. Gastar-do, San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez, Sta. Fe Mayor Rogelio “Roger” Illustrisimo Jr., Tabuelan Mayor Raul Gerona and Tabogon Mayor Eusebio Dungog.
Their other mayoral candidates are Medellin Vice Mayor Ricardo Rami-rez III, engineer Augusto Corro for Daan-bantayan, and Susan Pacheco for Bantayan. There was no official or candidate for Madridejos during yesterday’s gathering.
Ramirez, who will be running for mayor in Medellin against PB Member Joven Mondigo, said their organization in the district is “ready to do battle.”
It will be former mayor Rogelio “Doki” Illustrisimo Sr. who will be running again in Sta. Fe. In Tabuelan, meanwhile, former mayor Casiano Gerona will run as a “stabilizing factor” for what would have been a conflict between family members. (JPM/With LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 23, 2007 issue)
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