CEBU, Philippines – Former Dalaguete mayor Andrade Alcantara and five town councilors yesterday bolted the One Cebu Party of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to join the Liberal Party.
The five municipal councilors were Federico Muñoz, Estanislao Almagro, Francis Belciña, Juan Moran and John Rhetz Osorio.
Although the five joined Alcantara's transfer to the LP only Muñoz, Almagro and Belciña were able to take oath yesterday as Moran and Osorio had prior appointments.
During an interview after the oathtaking ceremony yesterday, Alcantara said that he and the councilors joined the LP because aside from it being the dominant party, they were invited by Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez himself to join.
He also said he was hurt when he was not chosen by One Cebu as its candidate for mayor and instead chose Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante.
Aside from the five councilors, former vice mayor Gabriel Entera expressed his intention to join the LP.
Muñoz yesterday said that aside from being a cousin of gubernatorial candidate Hilario Davide III, he also decided to join the LP because he supports Alcantara's decisions.
Davide ran against Governor Garcia during thee last election but lost.
In a separate interview with The FREEMAN, One Cebu spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda said that they expected the shift of the five councilors as they are closely identified with Alcantara.
"Expected naman ni namo, dili naman pud kahibungan kay ilang mentor si Mayor Alcantara naa naman sa pikas," Sepulveda said.
In the last May elections, Governor Garcia, head of the One Cebu party, chose not to formally endorse a candidate for Dalaguete mayor.
While Alcantara's certificate of candidacy was signed by One Cebu, former vice mayor Ronald Cesante carried the endorsement of Lakas and won for mayor.
During the first day of campaigning, Garcia raised the hands of Alcantara and Cesante's slates together.
Sepulveda said that despite this development the party remains strong and unshaken. - Flor Z. Perolina and Garry B. Lao/BRP (THE FREEMAN)