Canoy set to challenge Samsam in 2016 race

CEBU, Philippines – If he backed off in 2013, not in 2016.

San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy revealed his plan to challenge Representative Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas in the race to the Congress next year, finally ending political speculations.

"It's about time that I will run," Canoy said during the 63rd birthday celebration of Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes last Monday night at the City Hall.

Canoy, still on his second term as mayor, believes that he can put up a good fight with the Gullases who have been lording the district for over 20 years now.

In 2013 midterm elections, Canoy pulled back from the race against Gullas and instead ran against former mayor Lakambini Reluya in the mayoralty race where he eventually emerged victorious.

Canoy explained that he did not push through with his candidacy because he had no support from other leaders in the district.

"Nganong maglisod man ko karon sa first district? Sa una, wala ko midayon kay ako ra mang usa pero karon naa naman ko'y mga kauban," Canoy said, counting on the support of De los Reyes and other leaders who will be fielding in candidates  against the local Alayon Party of the Gullases.

Cebu's first district is composed of the cities of Talisay, Naga and Carcar, and the municipalities of Minglanilla, San Fernando and Sibonga.

Canoy also said he is not worried about the Alayon throwing their support to Liberal Party's presidential candidate Mar Roxas and Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III.

Canoy, who is also connected with the LP, said "we are the original LP (in the first district) and they know that."

At his party attended by close to a thousand guests, De los Reyes announced his "unwavering" support to Canoy's candidacy for congressman.

The mayor was also supposed to announce his lineup and runningmate during the celebration but opted not to divulge anything while waiting for the other camp to announce its candidates.

Separately, Samsam welcomed the "political development" in the first district.

"If Mayor Canoy wishes to run, it is his right and there is no need to trade words  here because the people in the first district will vote according to their conscience and to their belief on who can bring sustainable development in the first district," Samsam said in a statement.

The young legislator ran unopposed in 2013 as the administration's Liberal Party did not pit a candidate against him who ran under the Nacionalista Party. He obtained 153,514 votes.

Now that Canoy is running for Congress, he said he will leave it up to his son, Vice Mayor Miguel Antonio to pick a runningmate. Miguel Antonio is set to run as mayor in San Fernando in 2016.

Miguel Antonio will be challenged by former mayor Lakambini Reluya, who was elected municipal mayor in 2007, beating Canoy's wife, Renee, by mere 40 votes. However, in 2010, Reluya lost to mayor Canoy by a margin of 177 votes.