Glenn Soco eyes vice gov race again; Will Garcias agree?

With  Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale out of the picture, Mandaue businessman Glenn Anthony Soco said he’s ready to step up and run again for vice governor in 2013 as runningmate of Rep. Pablo John Garcia under One Cebu.

“The interest has always been there even after the 2010 elections,” Soco told  Cebu Daily News  last night.

“I  already signified my interest to the party leadership about a month ago.”

“I have always been prepared to run. Even after the elections, nagpadayon ko og tuyok-tuyok sa province to continue the relationship that I have built.”

But the 38-year-old bachelor said he is “not forcing the issue” and is leaving One Cebu  to decide who to field.

Soco’s frequent exposure in Capitol sorties in the towns, like June’s Suroy Suroy tourism caravan in the midwest,  have not gone unnoticed.

Last Sunday, he shared the stage again with Magpale and Gov.  Gwendolyn Garcia in Tabuelan town  for the celebration of its Ani-anihan Festival.  Soco said he was “guest of the governor.”

At the Capitol Governor Garcia yesterday said “this early, the lines are drawn” now that  Magpale and the Bakud Party led by Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III have decided to form a coaltion with a rival, the administration Liberal Party.

“I will say I wouldn’t be shocked. Once again, it is proven that in politics there are no permanent alliances, only permanent interests,” she said in a press conference with her brother Pablo John, who is running for Cebu governor next year.

A high-level meeting in Manila last June 21 with the Duranos and Liberal Party stalwarts  sealed the agreement between Bakud and LP, with Magpale and LP Cebu chairman Hilario “Junjun” Davide III, their gubernatorial candidate, presented in a separate impromptu meeting with President Aquino in Malacañang.

The President promised to visit Cebu on July 7, Durano’s birthday, for the formal launch of the Bakud-LP coalition.

Magpale, a cousin of Vice Mayor Durano and the highest vote getter in the Provincial Board, was earlier invited by the Garcias to be One Cebu’s vice gubernatorial bet in 2013.

Soco, who was Gwen Garcia’s runningmate in 2010,  lost his electoral protest case in the Commission on Elections last month but insists he was robbed of victory.

“I did not lose the case.  I still believe that I won the last elections as vice governor,” he said in a statement after the Comelec debacle.

Is it now Soco’s turn to throw his hat in the political ring again?

He said after the election, he continued to expose himself to voters in the countryside.

“I continue to do that in exchange for the support of the people who voted for me (in 2010) eventhough I was a neophyte in politics.”

“I have been present in some of the Suroy Suroy Sugbo caravans and other activities of the Province as a guest of the governor,” added Soco, who ran  against the late Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr.

Soco said he offers jobs, scholarships and livelihood training through his manpower services company and in partnershp with the government’s TESDA.

He also obliges solicitations for town fiestas: “I am most proud to do that from my own personal resources.”

Soco said that there were no discussions yet with Governor Garcia or Pablo John about the vice governor post.

He said they’ve only talked about the Obra Negosyo Eskwela program and the Governor’s Cup Volleyball tournament where he’s active, or the senatorial bid of Garcia.

Soco, who owns the Coffee Dream chain, said that he is balancing these activities with his business enterprises.

“In the family, I am always the one who is very active in business and I am finding a balance. You know business cannot mix with politics but there are always different ways to skin a cat. Right now, I still find time to go around the province.”

The Capitol’s long-running contract with Soco’s family-owned manpower service company  was terminated earlier this year, a source of controversy, but this apparently has not alienated ties.

At the Capitol, Pablo John said the One Cebu Party will have to come up with a replacement for Magpale in their lineup for 2013.

“As a party, we will consider our options on whom to field for vice governor. You can be assured that One Cebu will come up with a suitable candidate and one who will be able to strengthen the tandem, the ticket in the province of Cebu,” he said.

“We have not even begun to consider (a replacement), but we will soon.”

He said they “have not considered seriously names for the position of vice governor because we were waiting for the answer of Vice Gov. Magpale. And officially until now, we have not heard from her personally of her decision. What we know is what we just read from the papers.” ’

“As of now, I am treating it as we have been unfriended on Facebook with one click of the mouse. On a personal level, I have never allowed whatever it is to affect relationships. I have always dealt with them in a professional manner and I will continue to do so,” he said.

“Of course, it will affect the relationship politically. I think the most immediate effect to this is there would be changes in alliances. And, as a party, we also have to regroup in the 5th district because for the past two elections, we have been in partnership with Bakud in the 5th district,” he said.

His sister, Governor Garcia said “it’s a free country. Everyone is free to choose whatever option they may wish to take as regards their own political career.”

“Politically, of course, this early the lines are drawn.”

“Ive never allowed my personal feelings to affect my responsibilities as governor and to affect my demeanor in extending courtesy to a fellow public official,” she said.

She was with Vice Governor Magpale Sunday night in Tabuelan town for the town’s Ani-anihan Festival.

Magpale said their relations remain cordial and that she should continue to do her duties.

“We have no intention of blocking  or whatever those lines are. As far as I am concerned, I am presiding in the Provincial Board in the most just and tinud-anay nga trabaho and I will continue to conduct the sessions that way,” Magpale explained.

“Last night we were together in Tabuelan. Personally it (cordial relations) should not change.”

“As practiced, Mr. Glenn Soco as always, was there. So nothing has changed. He is still around,” Magpale said.

Asked if she was bothered by the businessman’s presence, she replied: “I am used to it anyway. Since last year even after the elections, he was there. So I am used to that.”

Magpale said that Bakud would have sent word to One Cebu about the new alliance but was overtaken by news reports. In earlier interviews, she explained that the alliance of Bakud and One Cebu  was limited to the May 2010 elections and is decided “per election.” /Dale G. Israel and Ador Vincent Mayol