Tiu's shift in loyalty worries LP's Davide

 CEBU, Philippines - Former Talisay City mayor Delia Tiu’s commitment to first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas will certainly affect the chances of candidates of the Liberal Party of winning in Talisay City, LP provincial chairman Hilario “Junjun” Davide III said.Gullas and Tiu, who were previously friends, went their separate ways in 1992, and have become allies again.

Both have announced their plans for Talisay for 2013.    Gullas is serving his third term as congressman, which prevents him from seeking reelection due to term limits.

Tiu’s father, former congressman Antonio Bacaltos Sr., ran for governor in 2010 against incumbent Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Many threw their support behind his candidacy. 

Gullas beat Bacaltos in the 1992 election when the congressman challenged the sitting congressman. 

To return the favor, Tiu’s brother, Antonio “Jojo” Bacaltos Jr. will run for city councilor under the Alayon banner, which Gullas heads. 

According to Davide, they were totally surprised with Tiu’s support for Gullas. 

Up to now, Gullas remains mum on the coalition on the local level of the LP and the Nacionalista Party.

Alayon is allied with the NP, which is headed by Senator Manuel Villar. 

If LP coalesces with Alayon, Talisay City Councilor Romeo Villarante, who is an LP member, said he and councilors Valeriano Ylanan and Danilo Caballero, his colleagues in the city council, will remain with the LP but will not share the same stage with the Gullases. 

“We will not go with them. We will campaign on our own,” Villarante said. 

Villarante, however, said the decision making will be left to Davide and San Fernando Mayor Abe Canoy, who is the district head. 

LP has still no strong candidate in Talisay City except for the vice mayor post.

The party might opt to field incumbent Councilor Ylanan for the vice mayoralty against incumbent Vice Mayor Alan Bucao, who will run as Gullas’ running mate.

Mayor Socrates Fernandez, who is on his third and last term, will run for a seat in the city council. (FREEMAN)