CLARK FREEPORT—One of Cebu’s top politicians declared she maintains her alliance with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and doesn’t see it as an obstacle to her entry into the Senate slate of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu governor who declared that she wanted to run for senator under UNA, said Binay doesn’t mind her alliance with Arroyo, who is currently detained on charges of electoral sabotage, a nonbailable offense.
Garcia said she has “never broken ties” with the former President.
“No matter what else would be said of her, the ports are among the best of her legacies,” said Garcia of Arroyo. She said her alliance with Arroyo is “not an issue with Vice President Binay.”
“It’s not either black or white,” said Garcia, who was here on invitation by Angeles City Councilor Maricel Morales to speak on a program for Gawad Ulirang Ina, an award for mothers who excel in parenting and professions.
She said while keeping Arroyo as her ally, “it’s not necessary to be a strong critic of the administration.”
Cebu, Garcia said, owed much to Arroyo. The former president, said Garcia, supported the infrastructure development of Cebu and brought the Philippines “to a level of economic growth that cannot be denied.”
Garcia last month declared her plan to run for senator before members of her party, One Cebu.
In a statement, Binay said UNA takes in candidates for senator based on their individual qualifications, not on their party or political alliances in the past.
Binay has declared he would run for president in 2016.
Garcia said she also appreciated the Aquino administration’s “attention” on the need to maintain bridges and other infrastructure projects in Cebu.
While Garcia had made public her plan to run for senator, some politicians in Cebu said she may yet change her mind as indicated by her transfer of voter registration to the third district now represented in the House by her brother, Pablo John.
The transfer of voter registration by Gwen, the politicians said, was a sign that she could be preparing a plan B in which she would slide down as candidate for a seat in the House if survey results showed her to be not a viable candidate for senator.