LP not threatened by Samsam Gullas

CEBU, Philippines - The Liberal Party said they do not feel threatened that Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, the eldest grandson of Rep. Eduardo “Eddie” Gullas, will be running for Congress in the 2013 elections in Cebu’s first congressional district.

San Fernando Mayor Antonio “Abe” Canoy, who is the LP chairman in the first district, said they expected Samsam to run for Congress as he already started visiting the district as early as last year.

“Amo nang natagnaan daan ang pagsulod ni Samsam sa politika,” Canoy said.

The first district covers the cities of Talisay, Naga and Carcar, and the towns of Minglanilla, San Fernando and Sibonga.

Of the six, only San Fernando belongs to the opposition.

Canoy is still studying his options whether to run for Congress or seek re-election and challenge former mayor Lakambini Reluya.

In the 2010 elections, Reluya, who belongs to Alayon, lost the mayoralty race after getting only 14,055 votes while Canoy, who belongs to LP, got 15,329 votes, winning by a margin of 1,274 votes.

But Reluya alleged that the first automated election in their town was marred by fraud, such as pre-shaded ballots, disorderly distribution of priority numbers and unauthorized affixing of thumbmarks.

Samsam, in an interview, admitted that the mayor will be a strong contender should he decide to run for Congress.

“Mayor Canoy will be a strong opponent. He is a formidable opponent,” Samsam said.

However, Talisay City Councilor Romeo Villarante, a staunch critic of the Gullases, said that Samsam will be easy to beat, citing the 2001 elections where Jose “Dodong” Gullas, endorsed by his brother Rep. Gullas, was defeated in Talisay City.

“Gipilde man gani si kanhi Kongresista Dodong Gullas sa oposisyon niadtong 2001 election sa Talisay, way katarungan nga di sila maningkamot aron mabuhat sab kini og pagbalik,” Villarante said.  (FREEMAN)