Pablo to push through with congressional plan

Former Cebu governor Pablo Garcia would not back out from his earlier declaration to run as congressman in the second district despite the request of the mayors there for him to give way to Boljoon Mayor Deogenes Derama instead.

Garcia said his family has already decided about his political plan. He asked the mayors to understand him instead because this could already be his last participation in an electoral exercise.

"Daghan pa man sila og election nga masalmutan. This could be my last electoral exercise," Garcia told DyLA radio.

Garcia recalled that in 2004, the mayors endorsed Derama for the congressional post but the latter reportedly begged off and asked him to run. He said he could have run for the post then but he eventually decided to let congressman Simeon Kintanar finish the term instead.

The situation is presumed to be the same now, Garcia said although he admitted that he has yet to consult with the mayors about his plan.

Garcia however was confident that all the 15 mayors of the second district would understand him and support him. "I am very optimistic nga eventually magkasabot ra mi," he said.

A party convention may not be necessary to select its candidates, was the view of Garcia contending that the process is divisive, and that consultation would be enough for the purpose.

Without the consultation yet at this time, Garcia's daughter, Gwendolyn, who is the incumbent governor, found a different sound from the political leaders in that district.

The governor, in a meeting she called for consultation purposes, reportedly was told by majority of the mayors that they reaffirmed their support for a Derama candidacy and asked the older Garcia to reconsider.

The Gwen administration has planned to form a local political party immediately after the ASEAN Summit.

The older Garcia however said he is willing to talk and explain to the mayors his plan. He said that his former colleagues in Congress and the barangay captains in the district had asked him to vie for the congressional post now.

Garcia, this early, said his priority move if elected would be to lobby for additional congressional representation in Cebu, through the creation of more districts.

He said Cebu province already has a population of three million so it must have at least 10 or 12 congressmen. "We are under represented sa Sugbo," Garcia said apparently referring to the present six districts with one congressman each.

He said this additional representation in congress is vital for Cebu because it would mean additional funds for the development of the district, aside from the added political influence to the province. - Fred P. Languido