Davide backing Apura ‘a weak move’

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny “JVR” De los Reyes yesterday reacted to Governor Hilario Davide III’s endorsement of the candidacy of Carcar City reelectionist Mayor Nicepuro Apura, calling it a “weak stand” on the part of the governor.

Apura is a member of the local Alayon party headed by the Gullases. In Talisay City, Alayon is the opposition of Liberal Party, to which De los Reyes and Davide both belong.

The recent political fracas in the first district began when Representative Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas was chosen by LP as its standard bearer in the district, despite him running under the banner of the Nacionalista Party-Alayon.

The Gullases have vowed support to LP presidential bet Mar Roxas, citing familial connections that date several decades back.

The development, however, was not welcomed by some LP members in the district, including De los Reyes and San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy, who is set to challenge Samsam to the race to the Congress in the 2016 polls and has jumped ship to the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

On Wednesday, Davide expressed support to Apura’s candidacy, saying he has a promise with him that he “could not break.” But this did not sit well with De los Reyes.  

"Paminaw nako, it should not be. You have to stand kung unsa imong paglaban sa partido. Mao bitaw nga nagkayabag ni (I think that should not be the case. One has to stand up for one’s party. That is why this has gone insane)," the Talisay mayor said.

He said Davide never consulted them before doing the endorsement of Mayor Apura.

"Mura’g dili maayo ang iyang gibuhat (It seems what he did was not right)," he said.

De los Reyes further said they have been sincere in their support to the LP candidates, especially Roxas and Davide. But the sincerity of the other party supporting them is questionable, he quipped, apparently alluding to Alayon.

"Ang amung pagkasensiro naa gyud na pero kung ang pikas grupo hisgutan mura’g kuyaw gyud na," he said.

However, De los Reyes said he will just shrug off Davide's move, adding he is ready for the worst in his political career. He said his career will be up to the people and not to the party.

Mayor Valdemar Chiong of Naga City, a member of Alayon, had earlier warned Davide against the candidates the governor had given the Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs) of LP since they are reportedly more inclined to support Canoy.

JVR said they will be supporting Davide, Roxas and Canoy.

Talisay City Councilor Dennis Basillote, who is the running mate of Mayor JVR, told reporters that he was also dismayed over Davide's move.

He said the governor should stand on his party and never listen to the Alayon since it is the latter’s old strategy to jump from one party and to another.

Basillote said he believe that Davide was persuaded by the elder politician from Alayon who is known be persuasive.

"Ato lang ning paminawon ang katawhan kay ang iyang desisyon dili man maayo para niya, sa katawhan ug diri namo kay ang iyang liderato weak (We’ll see how this will turn out because Davide’s decision was not good for him, the people and us. His leadership is weak)," Basillote said.  (FREEMAN)