Durano brothers team up, call Bakud ‘greedy’
It will be Durano versus Durano in the mayoralty race in Danao City next year.
The family feud firmed up with Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. announcing his plan for reelection with his younger brother, former mayor Jesus “Don” Durano as runningmate.
In yesterday’s press conference at Danao City Hall, Don announced his resignation from the Liberal Party (LP), which he headed in Cebu’s 5th district in the 2010 election, winning votes for Benigno Aquino III’s presidential campaign..
The exit appeared timed for the arrival of President Aquino who is due to arrive in Cebu today for the birthday party of the youngest Durano sibling, Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” III, whose bitter rivalry with his brothers spawned a recall petition against the mayor.
President Aquino will witness the formal alliance of the Bakud party led by Nito Durano with the Liberal Party.
Nito is running for Danao mayor in 2013 with his son Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI of Cebu’s 5th district as vice mayor.
In a press conference, Don said he was dismayed by how the current LP members are treating their “original” members.
“Subo kaayo nako. Gi- abandon na lang. Ang mga original, biyaan na lang. Ang mga bag-o ang gipalabi. (I feel very sad about it. We were abandoned. The original members were left behind. They are prioritizing the new ones),” he told reporters.
Don tendered his “irrevocable” resignation to Cebu LP chairman Hilario “Junjun” Davide III last July 3.
Now that he’s out of LP, Don said he will support whoever his older brother, Boy, will support in the 2013 elections.
Boy, the mayor, said even if he was booted out of the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) Party, his political alliance with One Cebu, whom they supported in the last elections, still remains.
Boy said they are ready to meet with One Cebu Party heads and let them decide who to field as congressman in the 5th district.
Don told reporters that they are considering Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco or his wife, lawyer Christina Garcia Frasco, daughter of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, to run for the post.
Boy said they support the candidacy of Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district for governor.
Boy said even if they count on only six of Danao’s 42 barangays for support, this makes up 65 percent of the city’s voting population.
The six barangays are Poblacion, Tuburan Sur, Guinacot, Dunggoan, Cambubho and Oguis.
Based on Danao City Comelec data as of April 2012, Danao City has 79, 505 voters .
Bakud controls the rest of the 36 barangays.
Mayor Durano described as “greed for power” the nomination of Danao City Councilor Miguel Antonio Magpale for the vacant Provincial Board’s 5th district seat.
Magpale was nominated by Bakud to fill the vacancy left by his mother Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale who took over when Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. died of cancer last year.
In a phone interview, Councilor Magpale said he felt slighted over what his uncle said.
“I’m hurt but you know politics can make you say or do things… I will take it lightly… That’s politics. At the end of the day, I will still see them as my uncles,” he said.
Magpale said Bakud had to fill the seat so the 5th district won’t be deprived of services and Capitol aid.
Political leaders were consulted over the decision, he said.
“Everything was done as professional and formal as possible,” he said.
Boy also called Bakud’s support for Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s Senate bid as “consuelo de bobo.”
Boy said since Gwen was very accommodating to all their requests in the past, Bakud supported her Senate bid out of embarrassment.
Bakud Party leaders said they will answer the mayor’s charges in today’s press conference in Danao City.
