Samsam reminds incoming Talisay officials: Soc, Eddiegul still at the helm

CEBU, Philippines - First district Congressman-elect Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas yesterday reminded the incoming administration in Talisay City that Mayor Socrates Fernandez is still the mayor while his grandfather, Rep. Eduardo Gullas, is still the incumbent congressman in the first district, which includes the city.

“They should remember that Mayor Soc is still the mayor, and Papa Eddie is still the congressman of the district,” said Samsam in a press conference at the University of the Visayas yesterday afternoon.

Samsam’s statement came after Mayor-elect Johnny delos Reyes lambasted Gullas for initiating the return of the vendors to the Tabunok Public Market.

Delos Reyes, as quoted by a local tabloid, described Gullas’ efforts as spreading confusion, or “pagpanglawgaw” in local parlance, in transferring the public market to its original location from Lagtang to Tabunok.

Delos Reyes, a businessman who invented a sore throat medicine, defeated Gullas in last May 13’s polls by mere 736 votes.

“He (Rep. Gullas) was gracious in defeat. Please treat him better than you are treating him right now,” said Samsam.

The younger Gullas said his grandfather, shortly after the winners were proclaimed, was quick to accept his defeat and conceded when he could have filed a protest.

He said the final results of all precincts of the city revealed that there were about 7,000 “stray votes” for the mayor, and the 8,000 for the vice mayor, which Congressman Gullas and his running mate Vice Mayor Alan Bucao could have questioned where these have gone, but both went against the suggestion of their lawyers, and conceded.

By stray votes, Samsam was referring to the number of votes cast for the councilors but did not reach the vice mayor and the mayor. He said it is either the voters shaded two mayors and vice mayors, or something.

But the 7,000 votes is something that could raise suspicion, he said. Yet, his grandfather, who was in Congress yesterday, chose not to question it.

The reason for the transfer of the vendors back to Tabunok Public Market, meanwhile, was one of the promises made by the older Gullas, Samsam said.

“Win or lose, it was a promise that he should keep,” he said, otherwise, the people would not believe him again.

He would have wanted to keep mum about Delos Reyes’ camp’s repeated mudslinging against Gullas, but he had just enough of it.

Samsam said the date of the transfer is between June 8 and 18, or until all the repairs at the old market is done.

Contrary to fears allegedly sowed by those who have not yet assumed office, Samsam assured all the vendors that to be fair to everyone the stalls will be raffled to them.

And as to vendors who allegedly do not want to be transferred from Lagtang Public Market, Samsam called it “ironic” considering that these were the same people who called to be transferred to Tabunok, and that now that their appeals are being worked out, they reportedly do not want such to happen.

“Pagpangampanya ganahan kaayo sila ibalhin. It was even made a battle cry (by Delos Reyes’s party),” Samsam said. (FREEMAN)