CEBU, Philippines - Around 400 incumbent and former officials, and members have abandoned the One Cebu Party of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and took their oath as new members of the ruling Liberal Party.
Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy, Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos and his Vice Mayor Stanley Caminero led the 19 incumbent officials formerly allied with One Cebu in the exodus to LP yesterday.
All the town councilors of Boljoon and Santander also joined the mass oath taking before former senator Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. at the Sacred Heart Center in Cebu City.
Even former Provincial Board member Victor Maambong, who used to be a staunch ally of Garcia, joined his political rival, Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, in the LP.
Maambong ran for mayor in Consolacion under One Cebu Party in the last elections but lost to Alegado.
Other former One Cebu Party allies who are now members of LP are Sixth District Rep. Luigi Quisumbing and PB Members Thadeo Ouano, Wilfredo Caminero, and Peter John Calderon.
Aside from known political figures who had taken their oath, several political leaders in different towns also joined the LP.
Sitoy resigned from One Cebu Party last week and abandoned his plan to seek reelection in next year's election to give way to his granddaughter,
Lawyer Leighna Katrina Sitoy-Abarquez. Sitoy will be Abarquez's runningmate.
Maambong, on the other hand, said he still has no plans what position he is running for in the 2013 elections.
Although all the councilors of Boljoon and Santander have joined the LP, the mayors and vice mayors of the two towns are still allied with One Cebu.
Boljoon Mayor Teresita Celis and Santander Mayor Marilyn Wenceslao remain loyal to One Cebu.
However, a former One Cebu member who requested anonymity expressed doubts about the loyalty of Celis and Wenceslao to the party following the exodus of their councilors to the LP.
"Don't tell me their coming here has no sanction from their respective mayors," said the former One Cebu member.
One Cebu, however, still has 13 out of 15 mayors in the second district. Aside from Galeos, Samboan Mayor Raymond Calderon had also joined the LP.
The second district has the most number of delegations to LP's oath taking and assembly, dubbed the Basic Orientation on Liberal Democracy (BOLD).
LP provincial chairman Hilario Davide III said the meeting was held not for the purpose of determining any official congressional and municipal candidates.
He said the selection process is still ongoing and that they would come up with a final list two weeks before the filing of the certificates of candidacy.
Davide also said the LP is not unfazed by the report about Governor Garcia seeking the congressional post in the third district.
"Wa man mi mabalaka gyud ana kay from the beginning amo position bisan kinsa ikaatbang andam kita moatubang( we are not worried about it because it has been our position that we are ready whoever the opponent will be)," Davide said.
Sitoy, who spoke on behalf of the new LP members, assured victory for the party - especially for Davide for governor and his runningmate Vice Governor Agnes Magpale - in the next election.
One Cebu has yet to issue a statement on the mass defection of its leaders and members. — /FPL (FREEMAN)