PJ on Sonny Osmeña: He was never a threat

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia will not back down from running for governor even if it appears he will not have any strong opponent should he decide to seek re-election as congressman for the third district.

Garcia made the statement after his supposed rival, John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, said he will no longer run for congress for the third district but will seek the mayorship of Toledo City instead.

Garcia said he never considered Osmeña a threat.

“Even before he decided to run in Toledo, it was going to be a relatively easy election in the third district,” Garcia said during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

Osmeña earlier challenged Garcia’s candidacy when he transferred his voter’s registration from Cebu City to Toledo City. Last Monday, however, he announced that will instead run for Toledo mayor together with former Rep. Antonio Yapha Jr. as runningmate.

“That announcement by senator Osmeña has not changed my mind. This is a go. It’s a PJ, Padayun Jud,” Garcia said.

With him out of the picture, One Cebu Party is yet to decide on who to field for the third district, Garcia added.

Meanwhile, Garcia also confirmed that One Cebu will not but fielding candidates in the first district of the Province of Cebu.He said it has been done in the past two elections when One Cebu has forged alliance with Alayon Party led by Rep. Eduardo Gullas.

The same situation was also applied in the fifth district when One Cebu forged ties with Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) Party of former congressman and now Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III.

“That is the implication, as long as the alliance stands, mura mi og one party, we never thought of putting up candidates there,” Garcia said.

However, the practice does not apply in the national scene. Garcia stressed the alliance of One Cebu, Alayon and Bakud is always been about Cebu, a local alliance.

Garcia cited the 2010 elections when One Cebu and Bakud supported the candidacy of presidential bet Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro while Alayon supported Senator Manuel Villar for president.

“There’s no problem with that...it is clear from the start that our alliance is only on the local level and about Cebu,” he said.

Officials of One Cebu and Bakud parties are set to engage in formal talks in the next few days to pave the way for the tandem of Garcia and incumbent Vice Governor Agnes Magpale in next year’s elections.

Magpale, a Bakud member, is also being courted by Liberal Party to be the runningmate of its gubernatorial bet Hilario Davide III.

Garcia yesterday said he sees no other reason for Magpale to delay her decision except that her party is observing a process.

Magpale said that while she and Nito have agreed on the course of action to take, they would have to wait for other party officials to arrive next week before they will formally announce the party’s decision. – (FREEMAN)