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Monday, December 08, 2003
Gullas partisans revive Alayon bloc
By Karen M. Flores
CEBU -- A "strengthened and revitalized" Alayon party in Cebu's first district on Sunday reconvened and declared "100 percent support" for Cebuano Sen. John "Sonny" Osmeņa, their first pick in next year's senatorial election.
Contrary to the pronouncement of Osmeņa himself, who acted as party president in 2001, members in the first district passed a resolution stating that Alayon is "not politically dead or dying in the district but is in fact vibrant, functioning and the dominant local political party" there.
Talisay City Mayor Eduardo "Ediegul" Gullas, Alayon secretary-general, said in an interview before the district convention held Sunday noon at the Grand Convention Center, that many mayors outside of the district still prefer to identify themselves as Alayon members and would like the party reorganized there as well.
In one of five resolutions the party chapter approved yesterday, members authorized the district directorate to "coalesce and/or enter into alliances with any national party whose core principles and ideals complement the basic principles and platforms of Alayon."
Although there was no mention of any party Sunday, there is speculation that Alayon may align with Lakas because of the commitment of both Ediegul and Rep. Jose "Dodong" Gullas, the district chairman, to support President Arroyo.
Despite Sonny's recent statements against Ediegul, the mayor himself seconded the motion of Talisay City Councilor Iņaki Jordana yesterday for the group to pass a resolution "expressing" their "sense" that Sonny is their "number one choice in the Senate slate."
"I have given my word that I will support his candidacy and I have never reneged on any promise. I will campaign very hard for him and I urge our leaders in the district to make him number one," Ediegul said.
This prompted his brother Dodong to comment, "That's pure statesmanship."
Sonny has recently been quoted as saying it was Ediegul who left Alayon first, even before he declared it "dead."
The senator now encourages his son, Vice Gov. John Gregory "John-john" Osmeņa to run for congressman in the first district against Ediegul.
Sunday's convention gathered many councilors and barangay officials although only two of the district's eight mayors attended.
Ediegul admitted they no longer have the solid support of chief executives there but he brushed this off by saying he faced tougher challenges in the past.
He also took exception to the report that fielding John-john for governor is an "accommodation" for him so the younger Osmeņa would not challenge him for the congressional seat next year.
"Wa ta magkinahanglan i-accommodate," he said in his speech. (I do not need to be accommodated.)
He said John-john already assured him that he would only run for governor despite the vice governor's move to transfer his voter's registration from the third to the first district.
Asked about his own plans, Ediegul said it is not clear yet if he will run for congressman next year. For his part, Dodong said if he were to have his way, he would no longer run for any elective position.
There was no discussion yesterday about the district party's choice for governor or vice governor.
Cebu Provincial Board Member Julian Daan, whose name has been mentioned as a strong vice gubernatorial candidate, said he would prefer to seek reelection.
Also during the convention, members designated Naga Mayor Ferdi-nand Chiong as the secretary-general in the district.
(December 8, 2003 issue)
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