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Saturday, August 23, 2003
Lakas fails to end guv-Junie dispute
CEBU -- For the first time in two years, Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia and former congressman Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr.’s group gathered Friday for a meeting that proved the local administration party is in “disarray and in a crisis” nine months before the presidential elections.
Martinez said that apart from their being able to express their sentiments before an official from Malacañang, the meeting “did not achieve anything.”
The point of conflict between the two factions remains the same—Garcia, who is local chairman, wants to “strengthen” the party by accommodating former foes. Martinez wants to protect original Lakas members from being set aside in favor of the very people who worked against them.
It was this “unification” issue that led to the break-up of the local party after a meeting held last July 10, 2001.
Also, Martinez and Cebu Vice Mayors’ League President Ricardo Ramirez pointed out that Garcia categorically denied endorsing the tandem of Vice Gov. John Gregory Osmeña and his daughter, Capitol consultant Gwendolyn Garcia.
Garcia, in a telephone interview, said it wasn’t he who endorsed the tandem but the mayors, through a manifesto.
Provincial Board (PB) Member Jose Ma. Gastardo also asked Garcia if Gwendolyn is interested to run for governor, but Garcia merely “smiled” and proceeded with the discussion.
This, for Ramirez, “reveals a lot.”
‘K-GOD’
“Let’s at this time concentrate on the work at hand, we have many projects in line. It all depends on the party and the President,” Garcia said when asked about his daughter, after the meeting.
Martinez also said that Undersecretary for Political Affairs Antonio Gatuslao didn’t say much because he was there only to listen.
The governor said he was “frank” about his waiting for K-GOD, the name given to the group of Reps. Simeon Kintanar (2nd district), Jose Gullas (1st district) and Ace Durano (5th district) and the Ouanos of Mandaue City, to announce support for President Arroyo’s candidacy.
“They don’t want Alayon to help kay kontra. But if we want to strengthen the party, we have to attract those who are not with us. Shall I tell them not to support the President?” the governor said.
Garcia said the Martinez group “forced” the issue that there’s only one Lakas member interested to run for governor.
Ramirez, however, said he directly asked Garcia if there’s anybody else “within” the party interested to run for governor and the answer was, “I don’t know yet.”
Garcia said he’s only doing “what needs to be done for the President and the party.”
‘Labad sa ulo’
Martinez, meanwhile, said Lakas area chairmen are merely waiting for “the marching orders” to organize in their locality.
They also need an assurance that as original chairmen who worked hard for the organization, they would still retain their posts.
But Garcia was not able to give them this assurance, said Martinez.
Whether the two factions would stick together or make official their break-up would depend on developments at the national level.
“Labad sa ulo (It’s giving me a headache),” noted San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez, who went out long before the meeting was over.
So far, though, presidential political liaison officer Bert Emphasis said, none from the groups has withdrawn support for the President.
Undersecretary Gatuslao met separately with Cebu’s 6th district Lakas chapter in Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano’s office.
Aside from Mandaue’s political leaders, those who attended were Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob, former Lapu-Lapu City mayor Ernest Wiegel Jr. and his wife Paz. Sun.Star Cebu
(August 23, 2003 issue)
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