Saturday, February 02, 2008 Gwen, Junie exchange pleasantries
A CHANCE meeting between Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. at the wake of former congressman Crisologo “Sol” Abines showed further signs of a truce developing between the former political rivals.
Martinez was the first to arrive at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes last Thursday night and was sitting at the back of the chapel when Garcia arrived with her father, Rep. Pablo Garcia, and majority of the mayors of the second district.
Among those who visited the wake was Santander Mayor Wilson Wenceslao, who has defeated every Abines who ran against him since 2001. Among them was Sol, who ran against him in 2004.
“Kanang kontra sa politika ra na (Rivals’ feuds are limited to politics),” Wenceslao told Sun.Star Cebu. Wenceslao is linked to the Abineses by his sister’s marriage to James Arnold, the son of Sol.
Congressman Garcia handed over to Priscilla, a former mayor, a resolution from the House of Representatives expressing their sympathy to the former lawmaker’s family.
Lawyer Frank Malilong told Sun.Star Cebu that the former lawmaker will be brought to Samboan for a necrological service.
His remains will then be brought to his residence in Santander where he will stay overnight before being buried in Oslob.
The governor was already on her way out when she saw Martinez. Garcia defeated Martinez in the 2004 gubernatorial race.
The governor then approached Martinez and extended her hand, which Martinez accepted.
Garcia told Martinez that she already received the resolution from Bogo requesting her to handle the asphalting of a nine-kilometer road in his city. It was the first ever resolution from the City of Bogo asking for assistance from the Province.
“Of course I will act on that,” Garcia told Martinez.
“Thank you, Gov,” the mayor answered.
For his part, Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu Province, 4th district) also said he is prepared to help Bogo City even without a resolution. He has since promised to pave the road from Bogo City to Tabogon.
“Nalipay ko nga nihangyo na sila (I’m glad they did that),” Salimbangon said upon hearing about the council’s request.
Salimbangon also announced his plans for improving the Verallo District Hospital in Bogo City. He wants to increase its bed capacity from 50 to 100.
He recalled that he and Martinez complemented each other’s work. Both were allies back when Salimbangon ran and won a seat in the Provincial Board in the early 1990s, representing the fourth district. Last year, he defeated Martinez’s son Celestino III for district congressman, in one of the province’s most hotly contested seats. (KNT/JGA)
