Durano relatives shift alliances to One Cebu

CEBU. Sogod Mayor Richard Streegan and his wife, Vice Mayor Lissa Marie “Moonyeen” Durano-Streegan, who had been affiliated with the Bakud Party in the 2019 elections, took their oath before Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia as new members of the One Cebu Party on Thursday, September 23, at El Mar Resort in Sogod, Cebu. (Photo from Sugbo News)
CEBU. Sogod Mayor Richard Streegan and his wife, Vice Mayor Lissa Marie “Moonyeen” Durano-Streegan, who had been affiliated with the Bakud Party in the 2019 elections, took their oath before Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia as new members of the One Cebu Party on Thursday, September 23, at El Mar Resort in Sogod, Cebu. (Photo from Sugbo News)

BLOOD is thicker than water, but not where politics is concerned.

A week before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2022 elections, Sogod town’s mayor and vice mayor have shifted their allegiance to the One Cebu provincial political party led by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, from the Bakud party run by the Durano family.

Sugbo News revealed Friday night, September 24, 2021 that Sogod Mayor Richard Streegan and his wife, Vice Mayor Lissa Marie “Moonyeen” Durano-Streegan, had shifted alliances and joined the ruling party in Cebu Province.

Vice Mayor Durano-Streegan is a first cousin of former tourism secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano, who is expected to challenge Garcia in the race for governor in 2022.

The Streegan couple, members of the Sogod Municipal Council and 18 barangay captains who had been affiliated with the Bakud Party in the 2019 elections, took their oath before Garcia as new members of the One Cebu Party on Thursday, September 23, at El Mar Resort in Sogod, Sugbo News said.

Based in Cebu’s 5th congressional district, the Bakud (Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya) Party is currently led by Ace’s brother Ramon “Red” Durano VI.

The Garcia family ended the Duranos’ more than 50-year hold on the fifth district when Garcia’s son-in-law Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco defeated reelectionist Red in the race for the congressional seat of the fifth district in the May 2019 elections.

The fifth district is composed of Danao City, which is the bailiwick of the Duranos, and the towns of Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Compostela, Liloan and the four towns in the Camotes Islands—Pilar, Tudela, Poro and San Francisco—in northeastern Cebu.

“Two weeks earlier, the Calderons of the seventh district, who are first degree cousins and allies of the Duranos, also expressed their support for Garcia,” Sugbo News added.

In a statement last September 12, One Cebu revealed that Representative Peter John Calderon (Cebu, 7th district) and the mayors of all the eight towns of the seventh district, had declared their support for Garcia.

The seventh district comprises the southwestern municipalities of Alcantara, Alegria, Badian, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Moalboal and Ronda.

Since the seventh district’s creation six years ago, Calderon has been the only congressman to represent the district, defeating two of Garcia’s brothers along the way.

Calderon prevailed over Pablo John Garcia in the 2016 race, and over Nelson Garcia in 2019.

In addition to Peter Calderon, Sugbo News cited Samboan Mayor Emerito “Doc Tito” Calderon Jr. as declaring “Gov. Gwen is my Gov” during an event in Boljoon town last September 16.

Also on Thursday night, Sept. 23, Carmen Mayor Carlo Villamor, Vice Mayor Al Damiles and three municipal councilors already allied with Garcia since the 2019 elections, took their oath as new members of One Cebu in Villamor’s home in Carmen town, Sugbo News reported.

Two former municipal councilors, three barangay captains and two newcomers also joined the political party.

Garcia has declared that she will run for reelection in the 2022 polls but has not named a running mate.

Last week, Red Durano announced that his brother Ace was considering running for governor.

Following this announcement, Cebu Vice Governor Hilario Davide III admitted that the former tourism secretary had spoken with him about a possible partnership but that nothing had been decided on yet.

The period for the filing of COCs for the 2022 polls is October 1 to 8, 2021. (CTL)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph