D’bantayan’s Loot back in One Cebu’s fold

AFTER much ado, Daanbantayan Mayor Malou Loot is supporting One Cebu candidates in the 2013 elections.

Mayor Loot said despite the misunderstanding between her and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, her heart still remains supportive of the Garcia family.

She made special mention of the “goodness” of the Garcia patriarch, Cebu 2nd district Rep. Pablo Garcia, as the main reason for her support to the gubernatorial bid of Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district and his running mate, former Danao City vice mayor Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV.

The Daanbantayan mayor faced the media to make her announcement of support in the Capitol yesterday. She appeared with 20 barangay captains of her municipality.

“I can only have one vote but I am looking forward to the support of my constituents,” she said in Cebuano.

She said she was thankful to Rep. Pablo Garcia for what he gave to the people of Daanbantayan town.

Provincial Board (PB) Member Sun Shimura, a son of Mayor Loot and Rep. Benhur Salimbangon of Cebu’s 4th district also expressed their support to the Garcia-Durano tandem.

Rep. Pablo John Garcia also expressed his gratitude to Mayor Loot for supporting him and Durano in the 2013 election.

In her response, Gov. Garcia said, “Ako nanghinaot nga unta makabawi ko adtong mga panahon nga wala makaabot kaninyo ang akong tabang (I am hoping that I would be able to make up from the times when I wasn’t able to help you).

The governor and Loot had a political falling out when the governor dropped the mayor from the One Cebu party after the 2010 election.

The two also had differences over the Capitol’s management of Malapascua Island, a world renowned dive resort off the coast of Daanbantayan. Loot revived this year the town’s right to manage the prime tourism destination from the Capitol.

But the two officials hugged and kissed during the Haladaya sa Kandaya Festival of Daanbantayan in northern Cebu last August 30.