Gullas reiterates support for PJ

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Liberal Party gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Junjun” Davide III, but the congressman stressed he is supporting Davide’s opponent, Cebu 3rd district Rep. Pablo John Garcia.

Gullas, who is the local head of Alayon party, said this when sought for clarification after he mentioned Davide in his acceptance speech during the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed widening of Langtad bridge in Naga City yesterday morning.

The ceremony was attended by Cebu City Rep. Tomas Osmeña, Davide and Cebu City Councilor Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba who is running for Provincial Board member. The congressman diverted his P400 million funds supposedly for his district to the road widening project from Naga City to Carcar City.

“I have not shifted my support. I continue to support PJ Garcia and I campaign for PJ in every barangay in the first district,” according to Gullas.

In his speech before Osmeña, Davide, Alcoseba and Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, Gullas acknowledged Davide and Alcoseba as a candidate for governor and provincial board member.

Gullas also acknowledged that Osmeña is helping Davide and Alcoseba to win the position considering that he is with the Liberal Party.

In an interview with the reporters, Gullas clarifies that he is committed already to Garcia and that mentioning Davide does not mean that he is already shifting his commitment.

The administration Liberal Party (LP) fielded its Cebu chapter chairperson Hilario “Junjun” Davide III for governor against Garcia, who belongs to One Cebu party of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

For the vice gubernatorial race, Gullas said they will back the candidacy of Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale, whose local party based in Cebu’s 5th district – the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan og Demokrasya (Bakud) in coalition with LP.

Gullas said his group’s support to the Garcia and Magpale tandem is a fulfillment to a promise which he gave to the Garcias of One Cebu way back in 2011.

Gullas said he has nothing personal against the Davides who hail from Argao. Gullas also said that his support for Magpale goes way back, when the 70-year-old acting governor served as a teacher of a school owned by his father Vicente Gullas.

In the first district, except for San Fernando Mayor Abe Canoy, all mayors have declared their support for PJ Garcia.  (FREEMAN)