WHO will the Alayon Party in the first district support for governor in next year’s midterm elections?

Talisay City Mayor Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas, one of Alayon’s leaders, said they still need to consult with their mayors before they decide on a candidate.

“They (mayors) will be consulted before we could make a decision to whom we would throw our support,” he said.

But for First District Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr., Eddiegul’s grandson, they already committed to throw their support to Third District Rep. Gwen Garcia, who is running under the coalition of her party, One Cebu, and the ruling party, PDP-Laban.

“Full support for Gwen. We were assured that no PDP-Laban (candidates) will run in the first district,” Samsam said.

However, a scheduled meeting between Garcia and Eddiegul in Talisay City yesterday morning was canceled at the last minute due to “previous commitments.”

Garcia proceeded to the City of Naga to turn over a check for P100,000 to Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong for survivors of last month’s fatal landslide.

Chiong said she and other Alayon-allied mayors in the district will support Gwen.

“We will go with the decision of congressman Samsam Gullas,” she added.

The first district is composed of the cities of Talisay, Naga and Carcar and the towns of Minglanilla, San Fernando and Sibonga.

The district has 373,647 registered voters as of 2016, the largest in terms of voting population in the province.

It is followed by the third district, where Garcia is registered, with 329,076 registered voters. The fifth district caps off the top 3 with 328,514 registered voters.

Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano told SunStar Cebu that the first district is considered a “battle ground” for the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial races due to its large number of voters. (JKV)