CEBU, Philippines - With President Benigno Aquino’s visit yesterday in Cebu, one thing has been settled in the local political scene – that there is no free zone in the province.
“The first thing that I did, straight from the airport, is to talk with our allies here. Why should we have a free zone here?” said Aquino, who gathered more than 100 LP local officials and candidates in Cebu yesterday.
“Bakit may free zone? Klarong klaro naman na kasama ko ngayon ang mga kandidato ng LP,” Aqunio said during a press conference in Mandaue City.
The issue on free-zone was raised early last October after the Liberal Party (LP) announced support for gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Jun-Jun” Davide III and his runningmate, incumbent Vice Governor Agnes Magpale who is seeking another term.
To boost Aquino’s support for LP candidates here, Davide was seated beside the president during the National Thanksgiving Mass for Saint Pedro Calungsod.
Aquino said that LP has its able organization to oil its political machinery.
Davide and Magpale will be running against 3rd District Representative Pablo John Garcia and former Danao City vice mayor Ramon “Boboy” Durano from the One Cebu party.
But questions were raised on a possible free zone because One Cebu is allied with the National Unity Party (NUP), which formed a coalition with LP. Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas confirmed that there would be no free zone and that Aquino would be campaigning for Davide and Magpale.
Roxas, who took a leave as president of the Liberal party when he was appointed as DILG chief, explained that the coalition of LP and NUP covers only the support of the latter for Aquino’s senatorial candidates. But Garcia said this would be “ridiculous” since they would not enter a partnership with the party and commit their support to the senatorial candidates if in turn their partner would campaign against them.
Garcia said that they would be clarifying this concern with NUP officials.
Yesterday, Aquino gathered local LP candidates yesterday for lunch. Aside from Davide and Magpale, others who attended were Cebu City South District Representative and LP mayoral candidate Tomas Osmeña, 6th District Rep. Luigi Quisumbing and former Cebu City north district congressman Raul del Mar.
Roxas, senatoriables Risa Hontiveros, Jun Magsaysay and Bam Aquino and Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr., and his son Tining Martinez, Cebu City councilors and the LP candidates for mayors and vice mayors were also present.
President Aquino clarified that the Liberal Party leadership is supporting its local candidates headed by Davide.
Davide, in a separate interview, said yesterday’s gathering with the president was an initial step as they plan to hold a regional assembly of LP candidates.
Davide said their campaign is doing well in Cebu, downplaying reports by critics that only few attended their “pulong-pulongs.”
“Of course this is not true. Dili man mi pirma-bugas-hakot-hurar,” he said. (FREEMAN)