Villarante forges ties with NPC after LP snub

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante confirmed yesterday his being the official candidate  of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) in Talisay City.

But he admitted that he was dismayed with Governor Junjun Davide's decision of choosing Mayor Johnny De los Reyes as Liberal Party's candidate in the city.

"Adto man gyud hinuon siya nibarug sa wa magtarung pagserbisyo. Adto man nuon sa baluktot nga daan nisuporta," Villarante said.

NPC was recently reported as supporting the candidacy of presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe. Villarante said his affiliation with NPC has been discussed among his group.

He added he would support Winston Garcia in the gubernatorial race.

 Villarante and his team were scheduled to submit their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) yesterday but they postponed it due to San Fernando Mayor Abe Canoy's request.

He said Mayor Canoy requested them to submit their COCs on Friday morning when the latter officially gets his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) from the NPC as the party's standard bearer in the first district.

Although Villarante has not been given CONA yet, he said he already talked with Representative Ace Durano (Cebu, 5th district), who is also a member of NPC in the national level.

"Wala na'y problema and it's confirmed," Villarante said.

Once again, Villarante expressed disappointment because he said he had been with LP ever since and that they have been loyal to the party, together with Mayor Canoy.

Canoy will run for congressional seat against Representative Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas.

On his part, City Councilor Danny Caballero, Villarante's ally who is expected to run for vice mayor, said  while they did their best during last elections to get  more votes for LP, this time, they will do their very best to make NPC win in Talisay City.

"Loyal baya gyud mi sa LP bisa'g ang LP dili loyal namo. Pero sige lang, ingon ana lang gyud siguro ang panahon," Caballero said.

Villarante, meanwhile, sees an impending chaos in the first district following Samsam's designation as the standard bearer of LP in the first district and Mayor Johnny V. De los Reyes in Talisay.

As a grandson, Samsam's bet for city mayor in the next year's elections is his grandfather, Eduardo Gullas, former congressman and city mayor.

This is a big question mark for LP, according to Villarante.

"Sa akong kasinatian, kung kinsa tong duol sa luwag mao'y makasandok. Aw hinuon daghan naman sad nuon siya (JVR) og tinigum," Villarante said.

In an interview, Samsam said they are still under the Nacionalista Party and Alayon; however, they would support Mar Roxas for president and Davide for governor.

"Basta kami nipadayag gyud og support sa kang (President) Mar ug ni Gov Junjun," he said.

Earlier, Samsam had asked Davide to suspend  giving of CONA to the candidates who are not in their group. Gullas has not got any response yet. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc of BANAT News