UNLIKE One Cebu which is endorsing senatorial candidates from a number of political parties, Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez said they will endorse the entire slate of the Liberal Party (LP), but he also clarified that he will vote for Cebuanos, specially the former governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña.
For Sanchez, despite their party’s decision, he still has his own preference.
“Sa ako kaugalingon na. Pwede ra man. (That’s for my own vote. That’s possible),” he told Sun.Star when interviewed after their political rally in Dumanjug town plaza last Saturday afternoon.
He believes that fellow Cebuanos need support and they should not be abandoned.
But this was not the personal stand of San-chez’s running mate, gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Junjun” Davide. He said that they will really endorse and follow the entire LP ticket for senators.
Cebuano support
Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay, on the other hand, said that even if One Cebu had left out these three senators in their line-up, namely former Co-melec commissioner Rega-lado Maambong and the two Osmeñas, Lito and Serge, he will still endorse and vote for them.
Binghay said Cebuanos need to support their own, adding that for him, “it’s a mortal sin if we abandon our Cebuano senatorial candidates and, even for that matter, all Bisaya candidates.”
“Dili ka mulaban sa kaliwat Cebuano ug Bisaya? Adto na nuon ta sa wala ta kaila. Dako kaayong sagpa nato mga Bisaya ug ato silang iwakli in favor of other non-Bisaya candidate (You won’t support a Cebuano and instead go for those who we don’t even know? That’s a big slap on us, Cebuanos, if we disregard them in favor of non-Cebuanos),” he said in a text message.
He also said these three Cebuanos don’t have to ask for an endorsement.
“Ug naa kay igsoon pananglitan nagkina-hanglan imo tabang imo pang paabuton nga mu-hangyo nimo? Basta naa ko nila bisa’g wala ko hangyoa. Muhangyo lang ko sa One Cebu nga atong tagaan ug full support ang atong igsoong mga Bisaya. That is the spirit of One Cebu (You don’t need to wait for a brother who is in need to ask for help. Certainly, I’m with them even if they haven’t asked.
I’m asking One Cebu to give their full support for our fellow Cebuanos),” Binghay said in a text message.
Statement
Binghay’s opinion was sought because he is the only mayor who first finalized his statement of full support for Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his vice presidential candidate even if One Cebu still did not endorse Nacionalista Party (NP) Loren Legarda.
He also recalled that Lito, during his time as governor, had helped his town much.
Consult
One Cebu Spokersperson Rory Jon Sepulveda said that the party still has to formally discuss this. He said they are “still waiting for the reactions from their men on the field.” He did not elaborate, but said One Cebu is willing to heara the reactions of some mayors or members of One Cebu.
He said he can’t comment much on Binghay’s statement because the party headed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has not yet released a policy directive for members who will not follow the senatorial slate.
So far, he said the governor only laid down a “non-negotiable” stand in their support for Lakas-Kampi CMD standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro.