One Cebu still backing 7 Lakas senatorial bets

The One Cebu Party is not anymore pulling out support from the seven Lakas senatorial candidates running under the Team Unity after learning administration coalition did not field candidates against its officials seeking re-election.

One Cebu party president Governor Gwen Garcia, who is the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) provincial chairwoman, earlier told Lakas party president and House Speaker Jose de Venecia that they will drop the Lakas candidates on the administration ticket if it fields local candidates for governor, vice governor and congressmen.

The seven Lakas on the administration ticket are re-electionist Sen. Ralph Recto, former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, Reps. Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon and Prospero Pichay of Surigao del Sur, actor-director Cesar Montano, and Governors Chavit Singson of Ilocos Sur and Vic Magsaysay of Zambales.

But yesterday, the governor's brother, Pablo John, said that "Lakas candidate are already safe" after learning that Cebu third district Rep. Antonio Yapha and fourth district Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez are not nominated by Lakas as its candidates for governor and vice governor.

Yapha and Martinez, who will be challenging Garcia and Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., have been nominated by the Partidong Demokratikong Sosyalista ng Pilipinas.

But Pablo John said the PDSP must withdraw its nomination of Yapha and Martinez considering that the party has coalesced with Team Unity. The coalition of administration political parties had a rule not to put up candidates for governor, vice governor and congressman if the incumbents are under the coalition.

Pablo John said Team Unity has fielded senatorial candidate Sultan Jamalul Kiram III from the PDSP, which has been dropped by One Cebu.

"The administration coalition should also look into this. Is it because Kiram is dispensable? This will seriously jeopardize the Team Unity in Mindanao, where Kiram represents," Pablo John said.

The administration coalition is composed of Lakas, Kampi, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), and the Atienza-wing of the Liberal Party (LP). It has agreed to uphold the "equity of the incumbent" rule in the upcoming elections. - Garry B. Lao/LPM