Mayors want Gov. Garcia to run for Congress seat

CEBU, Philippines - Is Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia withdrawing her Senate bid in the 2013 elections for the sake of the people in the third district?

Rumors circulating since Tuesday said Garcia is set to withdraw her attempt for the Senate and will instead run for Congress in the third district, replacing her brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia.

Pablo John, now a third termer congressman, is running for governor.

Erwin Maceda, political officer of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) which Garcia belongs, said they do not know about the report. Garcia was in Manila since Tuesday when rumors about her impending withdrawal from Senate race started to circulate.

Pablo John did not confirm the report while Gov. Garcia cannot be reached for her comment.

“What I can confirm is that several mayors and leaders of One Cebu have asked her to stay in Cebu because the party needs her and they feel Cebu still needs her,” Pablo John said in a text message.

Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante confirmed that there are talks among mayors who wanted to ask Garcia to reconsider her Senate plans.

But Cesante told The FREEMAN that they have yet to convey to Garcia the concerns of some sectors which do not want her to leave Cebu.

“We are set to formally appeal to Gov. Gwen, the party PDP-Laban (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan), and to Vice President Binay nga amo lang una si Gob,” Cesante said.

Cesante said they are also asking their leaders in the third district to give Gov. Garcia a chance to replace her brother.

Gov. Garcia cannot run for vice governor because One Cebu Party already picked former Danao City vice mayor Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV as runningmate of Pablo John, said Cesante.

Cesante admitted that with her talent as a public servant, it is high time for Gov. Garcia to represent the Cebuano speaking people from Visayas and Mindanao in the Senate.

Results of a recent survey conducted by Pulso ng Pilipino, an independent survey group, showed Gov. Garcia at 24th place from an earlier survey conducted by another survey group placing her at 32nd.

Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña said he has sources saying that Gov. Garcia is quitting from her intention to run for the Senate. 

“I have confirmed reports from multiple sources that Gwen has decided to slide down to Congress in the district of PJ. It goes to show that Gwen’s image of national popularity is just a façade,” Osmeña said.

“She cannot even win in her own precincts against Hilario “Jun Jun” Davide and she thinks she can win as senator? Between her suspension, re, her underwater property and the fact that she barely won as guv, I am not surprised that she is quitting,” he added.

Speculations that Gov. Garcia’s transfer of her voter’s registration from Dumanjug town in the second district to Barili town in the third district is a fallback plan.

The governor reiterated that her transfer of residence is not entirely political as she just wants her constituents in the third district, especially those in Barili, feel that they are also being taken care of. —/LPM (FREEMAN)