Villarante turns down offer to run with JVR

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante would rather leave the Liberal Party than run alongside incumbent Mayor Johnny De los Reyes, who was appointed as the party chairman in the city for the 2016 elections.

In a closed-door meeting last Friday night, Villarante already informed LP provincial chairman Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale that it already unlikely for him to mend fences with De los Reyes.

"Gov, kani among sitwasyon ni JVR (Mayor De los Reyes) lisod na kaayo uli-on," Villarante, who is one of the prime movers of the LP in the  district when the governor ran in 2010 but lost to then governor and now Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia.

One of the sources, who was privy to the meeting, told The Freeman that Davide has expressed his preference to support the re-election bid of De los Reyes as it was an ideal arrangement to follow the equity-of-the-incumbent rule.

The source said Davide tried to convince Villarante to be the mayor's running mate but the vice mayor reportedly turned it down.

"Gov, mananghid nalang ko daan nga mangita nalang ko og laing grupo," Villarante told Davide. In turn, the governor politely accepted the vice mayor's decision.

"I respect your decision," the governor told Villarante. Minutes later, Villarante and Talisay City Councilor Danilo Caballero, who will be seeking for vice mayorship, left the venue held at a restaurant owned by Cebu Provincial Board Member Raul Alcoseba.

Aside from Villarante, City Councilors Danilo Caballero, Dennis Basillote and Valeriano Ylanan were present. The meeting was also attended by city administrator John Yre De los Reyes, mayor's chief of staff and information officer Solomon Paypa, city legal officer Alfredo Sipalay and disaster management officer Vince Monterde.

In 2013, both De los Reyes and Villarante ran together under the Liberal Party, beating veteran politician former congressman Eduardo Gullas with a slim margin of votes. This 2016, it will be a three-cornered fight for mayor among Gullas, Villarante and De los Reyes.

Separately, Villarante refused to divulge anything that transpired in their closed-door meeting. But he said he will be calling for a press conference on Tuesday to give the full details of his political decision.

Meanwhile, De los Reyes also hit back at Villarante, saying the gap between them is impossible to be reconciled.

The rift between De los Reyes and Villarante sprang from several contentious issues that had the mayor and vice mayor taking opposing sides.

Villarante, though, enjoys the support from the majority of Alayon councilors and four members of the Liberal Party.

The conflict already started when De los Reyes warned City Hall workers and public officials to respect his executive orders or face sanctions for not following his executive orders.

Another instance was the alleged refusal of the legislative department to let its staff undergo a random drug test, reportedly because the staff was not working under the executive department, which initiated the test. (FREEMAN)