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Wednesday, February 28, 2007
'Kampi' brings rivals together
CEBU CITY -- Officials and members of One Cebu party will go to Manila Wednesday to form an alliance with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's party, the Kabalikat ng Masang Pilipino (Kampi).
"One Cebu has a separate identity," stressed Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007
Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. said he was informed only Tuesday about Wednesday's activity, but added that he is behind the governor's decisions in setting the direction for their group.
Questions were raised on the implications of this move on opposing local camps that will now both be under Kampi, but Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, One Cebu president, begged off Tuesday from giving details about the activity.
Provincial Board (PB) Member Carmiano Kintanar, for example, was earlier named as Kampi provincial chairman, while the new move will make his opponent, former governor Pablo Garcia, also with Kampi.
The same goes for Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, a Kampi leader, who will now be with One Cebu's Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano.
2004 again
Some local officials said they will be watching whether One Cebu's move in forming alliance with Kampi will not bring a repeat of the 2004 elections, when all warring factions in Cebu supported Arroyo.
This is also a chance to see whether opposing local groups can be united, something that Garcia said during One Cebu's launching that she is hoping for.
Ouano, who is fielding his son, Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano, for mayor this year, said Tuesday that his group already called up Ruiz and asked if she is okay if her name is included in their campaign materials.
"She answered with a big yes," the mayor told reporters.
Ouano also said that his partnership with Ruiz will be a welcome development for their supporters.
Alliances
Sun.Star Cebu tried to reach Ruiz Tuesday night but nobody answered her mobile phone.
Her chief of staff, lawyer Gonzalo Malig-on, sent a text message that her camp will refuse to comment for now.
Ouano and Ruiz faced off in 1998 when they ran for mayor.
Ouano is now on his third and last term while Ruiz is seeking reelection under Kampi.
He used to be the chairman of Lakas party in the sixth district but was replaced by PB Member Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, who is rumored to be challenging Ruiz.
Ouano used to support former president Joseph Estrada until the latter was ousted in 2001. The mayor has since allied with President Arroyo.
Governor Garcia has also bolted Lakas party, which now has the group of former congressman Celestino "Junie" Martinez Jr. as officials in Cebu.
However, in the national scene, Lakas is still closely linked with Arroyo.
Martinez, in an interview, said that if there are talks that Malacañang has given orders to put up a candidate to erode the Martinezes' clout in the fourth district, there are also talks that Malacañang has given orders to field a candidate to replace Governor Garcia.
'Kaluoy'
Martinez said they will come up with a candidate for governor. Their choices include him and his wife Clavel, brothers John Henry and Emilio "Lito" Osmeña, and Representative Antonio Yapha.
The governor said her reply to all comments from Martinez are a "bemused and amused smile and a wink," aside from saying, "Kaluoy pud."
Meanwhile, there was no official report of a fight that occurred in Toledo City involving Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia and a local leader.
Toledo City Police Station Chief Leodegardo Acebedo admitted he heard "raw reports" of an incident that happened in Barangay Poblacion two to three Saturdays ago, but said no one arrived at the police station to complain.
"It was not officially blottered," Acebedo said.
Martinez earlier said Pablo John, who is seeking Cebu's third congressional district seat, was losing leaders in the district because of his alleged behavior when he gets drunk.
He cited an incident that happened in Toledo City.
Pablo John, for his part, said everyone knows what happened and who started the fight.
In a separate interview, PB Member Kintanar said the recent political developments will not make him change his mind about running for the second district congressional position.
He told Sun.Star SuperBalita that he can slide from Kampi provincial chairman to become district chairman.
Kintanar also said that the only question now is who Kampi will endorse for Congress, and that things can be discussed in the party's arbitration committee.
Another opposition official who requested anonymity asked whether this sudden move is not a "show of force" for Arroyo not to consider Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña's request that she vetoes the bill recognizing titles of those holding Banilad friar lands.
Comelec control
Osmeña had raised the friar lands issue in relation to the proposed land swap deal that the Capitol dropped.
Meanwhile, in response to Martinez's claim that he will not make it, former PB member Benhur Salimbangon said that it's better for the fourth district to be under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) so there will be no cheating.
When asked by radio dyLA if he will file a formal request on this, he said he will, "if necessary."
Martinez had said that Salimbangon is "not a good catch" for what he refers to as "One Sibot" party, but Salimbangon retorted that he will give the Martinez group a big surprise. (JPM/AAG/With MEA of Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (February 28, 2007 issue)
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