CEBU, Philippines - The Liberal Party group in the second district headed by Cora Lou Kintanar is not supporting the congressional bid of Provincial Board Member Wilfredo Caminero in the 2013 elections.
Kintanar said Caminero is the reason for the “oppressive” easing out of the 2010 LP team when Caminero left One Cebu and joined them.
Kintanar was the second district LP chairperson when she ran for congresswoman in 2010 until she was replaced by Caminero who was accepted and nominated to run for the same position in the 2013 elections.
“Luoy kaayo ko namati’g estorya sa ilang pait nga kahimtang. Imbes na hinoon premyo, bali man kuno. If you were in their shoes, what would you do?” Kintanar told The FREEMAN.
Kintanar said that the LP team who plodded on despite lack of time and logistics in 2010 elections were “unceremoniously eased out” from the party.
She emphasized though that the 2010 LP team is loyal to the party. Thus, they will support only those who follow and espouse the ideals of an honest, effective government anchored on justice, human rights, and participatory democracy.
Kintanar claimed that she won in the LP selection process through secret balloting over Caminero, who was finally picked by the party to run for Congress.
But Caminero is expecting that Kintanar will not support his candidacy.
He said he cannot quantify how big the group of Kintanar is because some of them were already absorbed by One Cebu party.
One of them is former PB Member Carmiano “Cary” Kintanar, the cousin of Cora Lou, who is one of the candidates of One Cebu for PB with Boljoon Mayor Teresita Celis.
“They were invited to the One Cebu fold. Thus, I have assured them support because they are good and honest team,” Cora Lou said.
In 2010, Cary ran for PB seat under LP but lost to the tandem of Caminero and PB Member Peter John Calderon.
Cora Lou is no longer seeking any elective position in next year’s elections.
She also did not declare any congressional candidate to support in the second district.
“But I have promised all the loyal LP 2010 members that I will support them whatever party they will be affiliated with and I will continue to do public service in my private capacity,” Cora Lou said.
Aside from Caminero, former congressman Simeon “Sim K” Kintanar is also challenging incumbent Rep. Pablo Garcia.
Coras Lou lost to Garcia in 2010 while Sim K is the first degree cousin Cora Lou’s father, Filomeno but he is not close to them.
Meanwhile, it is going to be a tough fight for LP’s third district congressional bet, Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha as she will be facing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
This is according to Provincial Board Member Alex Binghay, an ally of the Garcias.
He added he knows the real sentiment of the people in the district.
Binghay had expressed his intention to run for congress before Gwendolyn’s announcement to put off her plans to run for the Senate and instead run for the third congressional post.
It was earlier rumored that Binghay will still run for congress with or without the endorsement of One Cebu Party after Pablo John announced that he is running for governor.
Days before the filing of the certificates of candidacy, it was Binghay’s son-in-law, PB Member Cesar Ian Geronimo Zambo, who said that it is impossible for his father-in-law to run against the governor.
“Mobiya ko sa One Cebu, magbuhat nasad ko og laing organization. I need more money, buslot man ni akong bulsa,” Binghay told reporters.
Binghay was among those who reportedly requested the governor to stay in Cebu and reconsider her plan for a seat in the Senate during a meeting with third district leaders and attended by the Garcias, Zambo, Toledo City Mayor Aurelio Espinosa and daughter, Vice Mayor Arlene Zambo, Asturias Mayor Allan Adlawan, Aloguinsan Mayor Augustus Caesar Moreno and Pinamungajan mayoralty candidate Glen Baricuatro.
Gwendolyn will be facing Mayor Yapha, the daughter of former congressman Antonio Yapha and former PB member Estrella Yapha.
Mayor Yapha already admitted that she is definitely an underdog candidate against Garcia.
The third district is composed of one city and six towns namely, Toledo City, Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan, Barili, Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan.
Yapha’s ally mayors are Teresito Mariñas of Barili and Democrito Diamante Jr. of Tuburan.
Her father is running for vice mayor in Toledo City while her mother is running for mayor in Pinamungajan.
LP was not able to field a candidate for mayor in Asturias making Mayor Adlawan of One Cebu party as unopposed. (FREEMAN)