Gwen announces tandem with Greg

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has finally announced her political tandem with Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez in their bid to seek for fresh mandate in the May 14 elections.

In a news conference yesterday afternoon, Garcia confirmed Sanchez's statement that he will be the governor's runningmate.

"Yes, I confirmed that in recognition of our very good tandem that has been shown in the past months and in fact throughout this term," she said.

The governor said she actually asked Sanchez if he would run as her runningmate. "I am happy and honored that he has accepted and we will be running in a Gwen-Greg (GG) or Garcia-Sanchez (Garcia-Sanchez) (Gasa) tandem."

In 2004, Sanchez ran under the Independent Masa party of former fourth district Rep. Celestino "Junie" Martinez Jr., who lost to Garcia in the gubernatorial race. Garcia ran under the administration party Lakas.

Sanchez eventually defected from Martinez's party when he expressed support to the programs and projects of the governor.

Garcia said she is ready to face anybody in the gubernatorial race after rumors have it that former senator John Henry "Sonny" Osmeña will run for governor instead of gunning for a seat in the Senate. Osmeña, who ran for the Senate but lost in the 2004 elections, is the nominal head of the local opposition.

Martinez said the final slate of their party will be known after February 15 and that Osmeña's proposed senatorial bid may change within the two-week period.

Although Garcia has yet to convene her One Cebu party, whose launching will be on February 10, she said they are already preparing to choose their congressional candidates.

First district Rep. Eduardo "Eddie" Gullas has already said his Alayon party would coalesce with Garcia's party, which will also coalesce with the Bakud party of the Duranos in the fifth district.

Garcia has also revealed their initial candidates for the congressional seats in the six districts.

These candidates are Gullas for the first district, her father and former governor Pablo Garcia for the second district, her brother and Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia for the third district, Rep. Ramon "Red" Durano VI for the fifth district and Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz for the sixth district.

However, the governor did not name their candidate for the fourth district, which is the bailiwick of the Martinez family.

The governor learned in her conversation yesterday morning with Provincial Board Member Joven Mondigo that the fourth district is no longer an "impregnable fortress" of the Martinezes.

"The anti-Martinez sentiment has spread throughout what was once considered an impregnable fortress of the fourth district. There are not only cracks, nangapulpog na g'yud," she said.

Garcia added that she is supporting Soon-Ruiz of the Alayon party "on the condition that the agreements between the Ouanos and the Soons will hold."

But in case the rift between the Ouanos and Soons will not be resolved and that the two will run under different tickets, the governor said she would support the Ouanos over the Soons. - Cristina C. Birondo