Binay party scouting for senatoriables from Reg 7

CEBU, Philippines - The PDP-Laban party of Vice President Jejomar Binay is now scouting for senatoriables for Central Visayas to fill the 12 slots of their senatorial slate.

PDP-Laban secretary-general Jose “Joey” de Venecia, in a press conference yesterday, said that Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has been a good performer since the time she started work in public service.

Although de Venecia did not categorically state that the party will invite Garcia to join their senatorial slate, he said he will be back in Cebu next week to “have a talk” with the governor.

Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, secretary-general of One Cebu Party, said De Venecia’s praises for the governor is “certainly flattering” coming from the secretary-general of a national party.

“As I’ve said many times before, if Gov. Garcia is considering a seat in the Senate, it has to be decided by her. One Cebu Party will certainly support her,” he said.

Gov. Garcia may be an asset for One Cebu Party but Congressman Garcia said their local party will support the governor whatever she will run for in the 2013 elections.

“It is also part of our policy to consider going into coalitions and arrangements with national parties, even with local parties, if it will help our party,” the congressman added.

He further said that they have had coalitions with national parties in the past.

When asked whether former Tourism secretary Joseph Ace Durano is also being considered, de Venecia said that their party is looking for public officials who have performance and achievement in their own field.

“Si Ace, he has a good performance when he was the tourism secretary. At kahit he was the tourism secretary of former President Gloria Arroyo wala kang naririnig na meron siyang katiwalian na ginawa. Hindi lang siya performer, gwapo pa,” said de Venecia. (You don’t hear any charges of corruption against Ace and what’s more, he’s also good looking.)

De Venecia added that currently they are touring around the country to make their party strong as they want to be the second biggest political party next to the ruling Liberal Party.

As of now, de Venecia said, they are coordinating with local coordinators as they want the presence of the PDP-Laban party in every town, municipality and city in the country.

De Venecia, who already announced that he is going to run for senator, admitted that their party is weak in Region VI and Region VII, that is why they are working very hard to make their presence known.

De Venecia ran for senator in the 2010 national and local elections but lost. He said that this time he will have bigger chances of winning as former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is no longer in power.

It was de Venecia who exposed the NBE-ZTE deal, claiming that the Arroyos received commissions out of the said deal.

The former President and the former First Gentleman already pleaded not guilty on the charges lodged against them.

“I know I am vindicated. Kasi gumiling na ‘yung kaso. Of course, we can expect that they will not plead guilty but I know the truth will always prevail,” de Venecia adds. (FREEMAN)