Samsam opens up on 2016 dream

CEBU, Philippines - The word has come straight from the horse's mouth: It's a re-election for a congressional post, not a mayoralty seat.

Cebu first district Representative Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas said he is gunning for his second term in Congress and cleared speculations that he is aiming for Talisay City mayorship in the 2016 elections.

Gullas confirmed this last Friday during his visit in the City of Naga.

The young legislator has been rumored to run for mayor in Talisay -- considered to be the bailiwick of the Gullases -- after he was sighted in many local basketball tournaments there.

He also laughed off speculations that he will supposedly tandem with Talisay City's No. 1 councilor Danilo Caballero who is from the Liberal Party.

To give way?

Samsam's supposed mayoral bid has spread in the city and even the first district amid reports he is abandoning a second term to give way to his grandfather, former congressman Eduardo "Eddiegul" Gullas.

"Wala pa gyud. The Alayon Party is still looking for a candidate in Talisay City," Gullas said.

"As to the question on whether Papa Eddie (Gullas) will be running for mayor in Talisay, wala pa gyud and it's up to him," the younger Gullas added.

In 2016, Samsam is seen to face off with San Fernando town Mayor Antonio "Abe" Canoy who highly considered a Congress slot back in 2013 but decided instead to run against former mayor Lakambini Reluya in the mayoralty race where he eventually emerged victorious.

The situation left the first-term congressman Samsam Gullas unopposed in 2013 as the administration's Liberal Party did not pit a candidate against him who ran under the Nacionalista Party. He obtained 153,514 votes.

Canoy may run

Early on, Canoy downplayed reports that the Alayon Party of the Gullases will join the Liberal Party.

Canoy told reporters that perhaps Samsam dreads the possibility of him running.

"Why do you think Samsam is joining LP? Is he scared that I might run for the same office under LP?" Canoy said.

He added that the Gullases have been "lording" the first district for years already and that he is contemplating, though not yet final, on running for Congress.

However, Samsam told The FREEMAN that the mayor should "not feel insecure" should Alayon decide to join the LP.

Samsam also maintained that the Gullases have been "lording" the district because "it was the people who put us in the position."

"Regardless of anything, whether the Alayon Party will join LP or not, we will support the LP leadership of Governor (Hilario) Davide III and Vice Governor (Agnes) Magpale  in 2016," Gullas said.

The Alayon Party was founded by Eduardo Gullas, who served the Congress for 21 cumulative years, from 1969-1972, 1992-2001 and 2004-2013.

Right tactic

While the first district has been governed by the Gullases, the neophyte lawmaker said they will submit to the LP electorate who will decide which candidate to pick.

Mudslinging, the younger Gullas added, is not the right tactic to take for a public servant.

"I will do my best to be re-elected and he (Canoy) should do what he can do to be elected also," Samsam said.

In an earlier report, Canoy was quoted as criticizing the Gullases for considering the transfer to the LP wagon.

Canoy, who is LP Cebu's chairman in the first district, said he is prepared to face anyone who will run against him while Samsam said he is aware of Canoy's political ambitions.

Cebu's first district, whose number of voters may reach 200,000 on elections day, is composed of the cities of Talisay, Naga and Carcar, and the municipalities of Minglanilla, San Fernando and Sibonga.