‘No Alayon-Villarante alliance’

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu first district Representative Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas dismissed reports claiming a possible merger between Alayon Party and the camp of Talisay City Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante for the 2016 elections.

Samsam, the grandson of former congressman Eduardo Gullas who founded Alayon, said the alliance will be difficult to achieve since the party has already chosen its lineup.

Speculations on the possible merger of Villarante's camp and Alayon emerged after members of the majority bloc in the City Council and Villarante stood the same ground on issues facing the administration of Mayor Johnny V. De los Reyes.

Samsam, however, said Alayon has already picked its candidate for vice mayor in Talisay for 2016.

"In Talisay, Alayon will field in former vice mayor Alan Bucao as our VM candidate in the 2016 elections," Samsam said in a post on Facebook.

In 2013, De los Reyes of the Liberal Party won by a slim margin against the elder Gullas. He got 39,453 voted while Gullas had 38,717 votes. Villarante, the runningmate of De los Reyes, got 27,974 votes while then Gullas’ runningmate, Bucao, obtained 27,232.

At present, Villarante is rumored to run for mayor with potential vice mayor candidate City Councilor Danilo Caballero.

Separately, De los Reyes is eyeing former vice mayor Aberdovey Belleza as his 2016 runningmate since City Councilors Valeriano Ylanan and Dennis Basillote, his remaining allies in the council, will reportedly gun for provincial seats.

With De los Reyes, Eduardo Gullas and Villarante, Talisay will likely see a three-cornered fight to the mayoralty post next year.