Some old guards of the Liberal Party (LP) in Cebu are uneasy about an alliance at the national level with their local rivals and the implications for the 2013 election.
Bogo City Mayor Celestino Junie” Martinez yesterday said this coalition would be a big problem later for Cebu LP’s gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Junjun” Davide III and the local chapter.
Congressmen in the One Cebu party of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia are part of the National Unity Party (NUP) that has a coalition with the LP in the Lower House.
“For example, former senator Sonny Osmeña’s disillusionment with Davide is a significant loss of support. If Davide can’t deal with that, then the Manila LP should intervene and solve the problem,” Martinez said in a news conference.
Martinez said the LP Cebu wants their Manila counterparts to attend to these concerns.
As early as now, said Martinez, the LP-Cebu province should position itself strategically but can’t do so because the LP-NUP coalition gets in the way.
Martinez said he supports Davide.
However, he said he isn’t updated on talks between the former Cebu City councilor and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale on a possible tandem in 2013.
One Cebu’s Rep. Pablo John Garcia the 3rd district said the NUP has an agreement with One Cebu to adopt all its local officials.
Martinez, meanwhile, said the LP Cebu is lucky that One Cebu hasn’t positioned itself early as they are still looking for a gubernatorial candidate to follow Gwen when she ends her third term in 2013.
“The Garcias want the next governor to come from them (the family) or someone married to the Garcias. That’s their problem,” he said.
On the other hand, Pablo John said Martinez and LP Cebu face worse problems because they are divided into three wings headed by Sonny Osmeña, Junjun Davide and Cebu City.
“I think they have bigger problems because they cannot even agree among themselves. How many wings does LP Cebu now have?” Garcia said in a text message sent to Cebu Daily News.
Pablo John said Martinez himself was an example of a political leader who favors family members.
“That’s ironic, coming from someone who in the fourth district cannot choose a candidate outside of the Martinez family,” Pablo John said.