ARE allies of the Magpale-Davide tandem receiving threats, prompting them to jump ship as the May 13 elections draw near?
Although unverified, Gov. Hilario Davide III said their camp has been receiving reports on the matter.
“Based on the feedback we received, there are attempts to court our allies from the other camp either by threatening them with cases. But we expect that because they’re desperate and we’re not that kind of politicians. They employ dirty tactics to win over to their side our allies, but in my assessment, our group remains strong. There are just some who probably succumbed to the pressure and threats, but our group with Vice Gov. (Agnes) Magpale remains solid... They’re desperate to win,” Davide told reporters on Wednesday, March 13.
His pronouncement came after Compostela town Councilor Felijur “Jury” Quiño left Bakud and declared his support for One Cebu’s gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Gwen Garcia, and its fifth district congressional candidate, Cebu Port Authority Commissioner Duke Frasco.
Quiño’s defection came a few days after Badian Mayor Carmencita Lumain left the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) to join the One Cebu party.
One Cebu is headed by Garcia, who is running for governor, while Vice Governor Magpale is NPC’s gubernatorial candidate. Magpale is also a member of Bakud.
Davide, on the other hand, is a member of the Liberal Party and Magpale’s running mate.
The development, though, will not affect the integrity of the Bakud party, especially in the fifth district, said Provincial Board (PB) Member Miguel Antonio Magpale, the vice governor’s son.
Earlier, Compostela Mayor Joel Quiño said he was unfazed by his brother’s defection and that Jury was no longer part of their slate for councilor.
PB Member Magpale also downplayed the defection.
“It will not affect the strength and durability of Bakud party in Compostela and the district for that matter. In fact, we have been very active ever since I sat down as PB member together with Congressman Red (Ramon Durano IV, Cebu Fifth District) and PB Member Jude (Thaddeus Sybico). I firmly believe that Compostela will still deliver for Bakud. We’re in the heat of battle now, and we expect more of these things to happen, but we are ready. Bakud is ready for all the malicious misinformation,” Magpale said in a separate interview.
Cebu’s fifth district is composed of Danao City, and the towns of Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Liloan, Pilar, Poro, San Francisco, Sogod and Tudela.
For two decades, the Duranos have lorded over the fifth district of Cebu, and whoever their party fields in the elections usually wins.
At present, only re-electionist Mayors Noel Dotillos (Borbon), Christina Garcia-Frasco (Liloan) and Eufracio Maratas Jr. (Pilar) are with One Cebu-Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, while the other town chief executives are members of Bakud.