Lito O. leads Yapha-Martinez campaign sortie in Danao City

Former Cebu governor Emilio "Lito" Osmeña led yesterday the campaign in Danao City of candidates Antonio Yapha Jr., representative of Cebu’s third district and Clavel Asas-Martinez, representative of Cebu’s fourth district who are running for governor and vice governor, respectively, in the May 14 polls.

Yapha and Martinez were on a campaign sortie in Danao City, which is a bailiwick of the Duranos, known allies of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Yapha said that Osmeña will be supporting his administration if he is elected as governor, as head of private sector study and implementation board.

The board will be tasked to look at the needs of the barangays and plan what programs and projects to undertake.

Former congressman of the fourth district Celestino "Junie" Martinez, Jr. was also with them, despite being a candidate for mayor in his town only in Bogo.

The caravan started at the residence of the Martinezes in Bogo and passed by the municipality of Tabogon which belongs to the fourth district.

The group then proceeded to Borbon and Sogod of the fifth district where they were met by their congressional candidate, Gilbert Wagas, and their local candidates for mayors, vice mayors and councilors.

In Catmon, the group was welcomed by hundreds of their barangay leaders. While in Carmen, the group was met by former Danao City Mayor Jesus "Don" Durano, and surprisingly gave vice mayoralty candidate Sonia Pua a visit.

Pua is running with incumbent Mayor Virginio Villamor under the Liberal Party.

Pua told the group that her team has not decided yet whom to support for governor since nobody approached them yet. Also, a group of supporters waited for them in front of the Compostela Public Market led by mayoralty candidate Ritchie Wagas. A political rally was held in the area.

Before proceeding to Cebu City, Yapha and Martinez met their candidates in Consolacion led by incumbent Mayor Avelino Gungob, Jr. and congressional aspirant Provincial Board member Gabriel Luis "Luigi" Quisumbing.

In all of their talks, Yapha and Martinez emphasized that health and education services are the priority of their administration.

Yapha also vowed that under his administration, he would work for the privatization of the Cebu International Convention Center, which they tagged as "Cebu International Corruption Center", so that proceeds could be given back to the barangays for projects. — Gregg M. Rubio/MEEV