Mariñas moves to LP; One Cebu not surprised

CEBU, Philippines - It was no longer a surprise for One Cebu Party that Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas jumped ship to Liberal Party.

Mariñas took his oath as member of LP before the party’s provincial chairman Hilario Davide III yesterday. Former Senator John “Sonny” Osmeña and former third district Rep. Antonio Yapha, Jr. were also present at the oathtaking at the St. Anne Academy in Poblacion, Barili.

“This comes as no surprise to One Cebu, and is merely the culmination of a long-standing attempt on his part to wiggle out of a commitment he made before the 2010 elections regarding the upcoming elections in 2013,” said Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia, the secretary-general of One Cebu.

In 2010, Garcia’s brother, now Barili Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia, was set to run against Mariñas.

To prevent a possible collision, Mariñas struck a deal with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, the chairperson of One Cebu, “to let him run unopposed in 2010 and, after one term, for Marlon to run for mayor in 2013, unopposed by him.”

Pablo John said that to preserve party unity, Marlon and One Cebu leaders agreed to the deal and Marlon made the ultimate sacrifice and slid down to vice mayor.

“With his oath-taking, Mayor Mariñas is merely manifesting that he does not and probably never had any intention of fulfilling his end of the bargain,” Pablo John said.

“All 10 councilors of Barili, and 40 out of 42 barangay captains — all members of One Cebu - wish Mayor Mariñas all the luck as he takes his oath before leaders of the LP who, perhaps by coincidence, all lost in the last elections,” he added.

Early this year, Davide, who lost in last year’s gubernatorial race, said LP will be recruiting more members to strengthen the party in Cebu. He said all cities and provinces are represented in the LP’s national directorate.

After the May 2010 elections, Davide’s runningmate, the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, also said that many mayors of One Cebu party and other elected provincial officials have signified their intention to transfer to the LP.  (FREEMAN)