Ace to run for Congress, Red for Danao VM post

Former tourism secretary Robert “Ace” Durano will run for congress in Cebu’s 5th district while his brother incumbent Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI will run for vice mayor of Danao City in next year’s elections.

Their father Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III will run for mayor of Danao, a post currently held by his estranged brother Ramon “Boy” Druano Jr.

The decision was discussed in a pulong pulong of supporters of the  Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud), which has agreed to ally with the administration Liberal Party (LP).

The father-son tandem in Danao City will be up against two family members.

City Administrator Jesus Don Durano, brother of Nito, will be running for vice mayor with the reelection bid of Boy.

Bakud passed a party resolution last Thursday approving the alliance with LP for next year’s elections.

The Durano-led party said it will support Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Cebu LP’s gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Junjun” Davide III in 2013.

However Bakud will still endorse Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for senator.

The resolution passed on June 28 said “Bakud firmly believes that the candidacy for senator of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia will not only ensure representation in the Senate for Cebu, the Visayas and Mindanao but will effectively contribute to the rapid development of the country.”

In the 2007 and 2010 national and local elections, Bakud forged a tactical alliance with One Cebu, the party led by the Garcia clan., for the pursuit of common programs, it said.

In their resolution,  Bakud said the tactical alliance resulted in the victory of its candidates.

However, in the 2010 elections, said Bakud, the people delivered a clear mandate for social change and good governance by voting for  Benigno Aquino III as president.

The Bakud party said it wanted to heed this call.

Bakud said that in order to participate in the task of nation building, “its political machinery needs to support the new administration and enable it the widest latitude to fulfill its noble objectives.”

The party also considered the appointment of Magpale’s youner brother Rene Almendras as Energy Secretary.

It said after consulting its general membership, the party decided “to foster a harmonious relationship with President Aquino and to actively collaborate with his administration in all its endeavors” for the public good.

The Bakud party confirmed the June 21 meeting with President Aquino and party leaders of Bakud and LP officials in Malacanang.

A party insider who requested anonymity said the passage of the resolution would pave the way for the official signing of the alliance agreement between Bakud and LP on July 7 to be attended by President Aquino in Danao City.