I’ll back Gwen if she runs for Senate in 2013 — Gullas

REP. Eduardo “Eddie” Gullas (Cebu 1st district) yesterday said he would support Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia if she runs for senator next year.

In a press conference, Gullas, who heads the local Alayon party, said he promised not only to support Garcia but also any Cebuano who would run for senator regardless of party affiliation.

He’s done the same before for three other Cebuano senatorial candidates from different parties in the 2010 elections—Lito Osmeña, Serge Osmeña and Regalado “Dodong” Maambong. Only Serge Osmeña won a seat.

Having more Cebuanos in the Senate and the Cabinet would benefit Cebu, Gullas said.

Gullas, who is finishing his last term as congressman in the 1st district, said he would give way to his grandson, Sam-sam Gullas, or his son Gerald Anthony “Didi” Gullas if the family would decide to field one of them in 2013.

He said this would depend on an ongoing consultation of leaders and constituents of Talisay City.

Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said she wouldn’t have a difficult time accepting the Liberal Party if talks between her party Bakud and LP for an alliance would prosper.

Magpale said on Wednesday that she liked the party principles of LP a lot such as reliance on a “non-personality based selection of candidates, and eradication of graft and corruption.”

She would not elaborate on the progress of the negotiations that included an offer for her as vice governor to LP’s gubernatorial bet Hilario Davide III.

“I cannot confirm or deny that …. I will leave any official announcements to come from our party chairman,” she said, referring to cousin and Danao City Vice Mayor Ramonito “Nito” Durano.

Davide already announced his bid for the Cebu governorship and is exploring a possible tandem with Magpale who belongs to the Durano clan, which controls the 5th district.

Former Cebu governor Lito Osmeña said the only one who could spoil Davide’s bid for the gubernatorial post would be Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu 4th district).

“Once nga mudagan si Salimbangon, taas ang kamot ko (If Salimbangon will run, I’m hands off),” he said in a radio interview over dyLA last night. “Kung dili gani, si Jun2x na ang bagong gobernador (But if Salimbangon won’t run, then Junjun (Davide) will be the new governor).”

But Salimbangon said he would definitely seek reelection in 2013 as congressman in the 4th district.

“I have no plans to run for governor. My plans are all within the district lang,” said Salimbangon in a telephone interview from Quezon City. /Correspondent Chito O. Aragon with a report from Reporter Dale G. Israel