Roxas calls for unity in first district

CEBU, Philippines - Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas III remained tight-lipped on the political differences in Talisay City where some local leaders who belong to the party are gunning for one position.

Roxas, who was in Cebu yesterday for the first time after President Benigno Aquino III anointed him as a presidential candidate, is calling for unification among LP's local leaders to continue the "Daang Matuwid" platform.    

"Dapat di umiral ang personal interests, dapat may togetherness," Roxas told reporters at the Talisay City Hall. He did not further elaborate.

Talisay expects to see a three-pronged fight to the mayoralty post next year in Mayor Johnny De los Reyes, Vice Mayor  Romeo Villarante and former congressman Eduardo Gullas.

De los Reyes and Villarante are presently connected with LP, while Gullas will run under his Alayon Party ticket.

De los Reyes and Villarante were running mates in the 2013 elections, but had a falling out last year as the mayor suspected that the vice mayor was blocking his programs and projects.

The Alayon, which has a strong hold on the first district, earlier pledged its support to Roxas and the re-election bid of Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, still of LP.

In the race to the Congress, the first district will see a battle between incumbent Representative Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas and San Fernando town Mayor Antonio Canoy.

Again, Samsam and Canoy, being part of the Alayon and LP, respectively, will support Roxas in 2016.

At the Farmers' Day program at the Capitol Social Hall where Roxas was also a guest speaker, Samsam sat alongside the presidential bet while Canoy himself, although recognized by Roxas, sat at the audience.

Roxas then dashed out of the hall for a brief meeting with Cebu leaders at Davide's office. At the office, Canoy and Samsam were seen shaking hands.

Asked of his stand in the race against the young Gullas, Canoy told reporters: "May the best man win."

Meanwhile, Davide is still hoping that Talisay and the district will be united in fielding a common candidate in the next elections. He believes this is still possible.

For De los Reyes, however, this call for unity will not prosper.

"Mura'g apiki ug lisod gyud na. Kinahanglan naa'y pilion. Ako nagtuo nga palabihon gyud nila ang ilang anak (That seems hard. They have to choose. I believe they will favor the LP members)," De los Reyes said.

Alayon's support to Roxas, according to De los Reyes, is not definite, especially that some mayors in the district attended the gathering of One Cebu Party called by former governor and now Representative Gwendolyn Garcia (Cebu, third district) last week. One Cebu is LP's opposition in Cebu.

Samsam, however, said Alayon's ultimate goal is to assure Roxas to win for president. He said that for Alayon, local elections should only be secondary.

"There is so much more in local politics. No matter what happens in the district, the most important thing is for Mar Roxas to win," Samsam said.

Villarante agreed with Samsam and opts to wait for the party's decision as to who among them will be eventually endorsed by LP.

Villarante, who claimed to be an "original" LP member, assured that he will continue to support Roxas and Davide even if he will not be appointed standard bearer in Talisay.

During Roxas' visit at the Talisay City People's Hall yesterday, Talisaynons were treated to a rare sight of local officials demonstrating respect for one another.

The mayor was seated together with Canoy on the left side, while Samsam and Davide were seated together on the right. Roxas separated them in the center.

"Namamanhikan ako sa inyo. Humihingi ako sa inyong tulong dahil ipamamahagi natin ang Daang Matuwid na magkasama tayo. Walang iwanan at walang maiiwan sa Daang Matuwid (I am appealing to you, asking for help. Let's share Daang Matuwid together)," Roxas said to the crowd. (FREEMAN)