Davide III ready to run for Cebu governor

CEBU, Philippines - Will it be a fight between a Garcia and a Davide in the 2010 gubernatorial race?

With the recent appointment of Cebu City Acting Vice Mayor Hilario Davide III as provincial chairman of the Liberal Party, talks are rife that the son of the former chief justice of the Supreme Court would be fielded by the party as its gubernatorial candidate in the coming elections.

Sought for comment, Davide said that although there is a process in the selection of the party’s local candidates, he is “open and willing” to run as governor if the party chooses him to be its gubernatorial candidate in Cebu.

“Open ko ana nga posibilidad kung i-draft ko nila, andam ko nga magpapili pagka-gobernador sa Sugbu,” Davide said, adding he wants to give the people of the province an option aside from bringing back the “harmonious relationship between the two (Cebu City and province) local government units.”

The top officials of the provincial and city governments have been at odds since the aborted land swap deal that started a few years ago.

In fact, Davide is planning to transfer his registration to the province to prove that he is serious of his commitment to the party and his political plan next year.

The acting vice mayor, son of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., is a native of Argao, Cebu. He said he may transfer his registration to Argao before the deadline ends on October 30.

Davide said that he will also resign from office as a city councilor after transferring his registration in the province anytime soon.

He revealed his plans as the Liberal Party’s provincial chairman which includes forming his own group and headquarters. Likewise, he is planning to meet with the leaders of some local political party in the province including the newly reorganized Partido Panaghiusa of the opposition to ask for their support for LP standard bearer, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and for his gubernatorial plan if chosen by party members.

But a reliable source told The FREEMAN that Davide will eventually be chosen as the official candidate of Liberal Party in the province for governor.

The source added that they are now looking for Davide’s runningmate and they are considering a high ranking elected official in the province, saying that talks have already started between their camp and the official who was in the line-up of the Gov. Garcia during the last elections. — /WAB (THE FREEMAN)