CONTROVERSIAL REMARK. Bando Osmeña–Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) Cebu City standard bearer Margot Osmeña just recalled the controversial "modawat og limpyo" speech that first derailed negotiations over 93-1 lots swap between Cebu City and Cebu Province.
Margot was asked by Rappler about her stand on the current new talks over the deal. She said it's already done, apparently not knowing or forgetting it was snagged again when Gwen Garcia returned as governor in 2019. Mike had bristled over the MOL remark attributed to him.
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MUTUAL ADMIRATION. On former president Gloria Arroyo's 75th birthday Monday, April 4, former president Joseph Estrada greeted her by phone. Erap: "I hope you run again (for president). We need you." GMA: "We need you also."
She didn't return the compliment; she didn't tell Erap to run again. While GMA would be 81 in 2028, Erap would be 91.
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AGREEMENT WITH CHIONG. Talisay City Vice Mayor Allan Bucao, who's contesting the reelection of Mayor Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas Jr., has disclosed Samsam's plan to push in Congress the creation of a new district by splitting the existing district: one, from Talisay City to Minglanilla and the other from Naga to Sibonga.
The First District at present comprises three cities (Talisay, Naga and Carcar) and three municipalities (Minglanilla, San Fernando and Sibonga). As of 2020, the district has a population of 809,335. Under the Constitution, each city with a population of at least 250,000 shall have at least one representative. The cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu now have one legislative district each
Bucao, an ally of the Gullases under the local party Alayon for about 30 years before last year's breakup when Samsam's wife Rhea Gullas decided to run for mayor, said Samsam filed his COC (certificate of candidacy) for congressman under an agreement with the Chiongs of Naga City that Val Chiong wouldn't run for Congress if Samsam or his grandfather Rep. Eduardo Gullas would run. The Gullas couple's -switch of positions (Rhea to the House race and Samsam to the city mayor's fight) seemed to have breached the agreement, if what Bucao said was true.
The mayor and the vice mayor appeared on AnDiscoveries of MyTV Cebu in separate pre-recorded interviews by broadcaster Andrea Patena. It has been on Facebook Watch since it was first shown last March 23.
SPLIT DISTRICT/CREATE ONE FOR NAGA. VM Bucao's disclosure about the plan for the first district didn't get immediate reaction from Samsam as the vice mayor, in that segment about the alleged broken promise, spoke after the mayor. The program shifted to another topic after Bucao's revelation.
Also left to hang is whether the plan will be pursued by Rhea Gullas who in the substitution took over her husband's former choice spot: being in a race with no competition.
The first district may be split under a redistricting plan or Naga City, like Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City, will have its own congressional district. That would depend upon the redistricting bill of the congressman who controls the district. An unwritten law in the House is that the district congressman's wish is respected by his colleagues in other districts. In the first district's case, Rhea Gullas and husband Samsam will call the shots.
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