Garcia, Martinez unite vs John-John Osmeña

CEBU — In a rare show of unity, political rivals Gov. Pablo Garcia and former Rep. Celestino Martinez Jr. set aside their differences and sent a joint letter to President Arroyo expressing their frustration on the endorsement of Vice Gov. John-John Osmeña as administration candidate for governor, instead of a Lakas-CMD member.

Garcia’s daughter, Gwendolyn, and Martinez are both members of the ruling Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats) party, and are both running for Cebu governor as independent candidates.

Garcia, as provincial chairman of the Lakas-CMD, has issued certificates of nomination to party members who are running for local positions.

Gwendolyn and Martinez each hoped that they would be endorsed by the administration party up to the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy.

But their hopes were dashed when the Lakas-CMD named Osmeña, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, and his running mate, Lakas member Adelino Sitoy, as its candidates. This was a result of the Lakas-NPC coalition.

Garcia and Martinez have strongly opposed the Lakas-NPC coalition in Cebu after some local NPC members supported the move to impeach Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

But Garcia said he will still support Mrs. Arroyo in the upcoming elections, while Martinez and his camp are mulling their transfer to another party, if necessary.

Provincial board member Gregorio Sanchez Jr., Martinez’s running mate, said they are considering joining other parties but that they are still supporting Mrs. Arroyo now.

Garcia’s office said the letter was faxed to Malacañang. — Freeman News Service