Cebu leaders nix Arroyo’s unity call

CEBU — Local leaders of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition are set to snub President Arroyo’s call for unity between their parties.

The President is expected here today for a Lakas-NPC covenant signing. But while she will come with an agenda for unity, local NPC and Lakas leaders are keen on blocking any unification moves.

The other day, regular provincial board sessions were canceled after Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Felix Guanzon sent out notices and relayed the President’s call for unity between Lakas and NPC.

Leaders from both camps balked at the proposal, saying they were not consulted.

Sen. John "Sonny" Osmeña said he knew that the covenant was meant to muster support for Mrs. Arroyo’s candidacy in the 2004 presidential elections.

Both Gov. Pablo Garcia and Celestino Martinez Jr. will not be signing the covenant, saying they are "uneasy" about it.

"I’m not comfortable with that coalition," Garcia said.

He believes that Reps. Simeon Kintanar, Antonio Yapha, Joseph Ace Durano and Nerissa Soon Ruiz would not be serving the interest of the President but rather the interest of their political handlers.

Garcia referred to the impeachment of Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. Durano and Ruiz voted for it, while Kintanar and Yapha were silent on the issue.

Both camps are apprehensive about the unification as it might derail the gubernatorial bids of both Martinez and Gwendolyn Garcia, the governor’s daughter.

The governor said the Martinez camp, especially the provincial board members, should publicly declare that they are breaking away from their tactical alliance with the group of Vice Gov. John-John Osmeña.

"They should come out strongly," he said.

Garcia said Osmeña might only be using the Martinez camp to have a leverage to mislead the President into endorsing his candidacy. — Freeman News Service