Gullas lauds Lito support for Gwen

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas commended the stand of former Cebu governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña in expressing his support for Governor Gwendolyn Garcia if she runs for senator in the 2013 elections.

Prior to Osmeña’s declaration, Gullas said he already told Garcia that he will support her after hearing a report that she is being considered in the senatorial lineup of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

In a press conference yesterday, Gullas said that since before, he has been consistent in supporting Cebuanos who run for national positions regardless of political affiliation without being asked.

In 1998, Gullas bolted from the Lakas Party to support Osmeña who ran for president under the Probinsiya Muna Development Initiative (Promdi), a minority party.

Gullas said he convinced other Cebuano congressmen at the time to support Osmeña except then Rep. Ramon “Nito” Durano, III who was the regional chairman of the Lakas Party.

Last 2010 elections, Gullas said he also supported Lito, Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III and late Regalado Maambong who ran for senator.

“Without them asking me, I supported them, I campaigned for them in the first district,” Gullas said.

Like Lito, Gullas also said other smaller regions and provinces can make senators like the Bicolanos and the Batangeños.

“Here in Cebu we have the tendency to fight each other,” he said.

He said fighting has been there since the time of the late president Sergio Osmeña Sr. when the Osmeñas, the Cuencos and also the Duranos were rivals.

“Unity has eluded Cebu for so long,” Gullas said.

Gullas pointed out that the big number of Cebuano-speaking regions in Visayas and Mindanao is a big factor a Cebuano may win in the Senate.

“We need a Cebuano all the time in the Senate, in the Cabinet. Since the time of (President Manuel) Quezon, we always have Cebuanos in the Senate and in the Cabinet,” Gullas added.

Lito earlier said he will support Garcia for the good of Cebu.

Garcia thanked Lito for his declaration.

“I like to thank him for his statement, but I haven’t decided yet what to do after my term ends. I’d like to say thank you, governor Lito,” Garcia said. (FREEMAN)