Mayors say Gwen can’t afford delay; LP unfazed, stages show of force

While Cebu mayors urged Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to decide on a run for congress in the 3rd district, the rival Liberal Party-Cebu chapter yesterday remained confident it can meet her head-on.

“We are ready to face anyone in any district, in any towns,” said Cebu-LP chairman Hilario Davide III  after a mass oath-taking of LP members at the Sacred Heart Center in Cebu City.

Davide said yesterday’s oath-taking was a show of force that “boosted their morale” ahead of next month’s filing of certificates of candidacies.

Garcia held a closed-door meeting  in the Marco Polo Plazaa with mayors and two Provincial Board members from Cebu’s 3rd  district on Friday night.

The hotel meeting  ended with no definite decision from the governor on whether  she would abort her plans to run for the Senate and instead see the congressional seat in Cebu’s 3rd district, her brother’s bailiwick.

Also present was Provincial Board (PB) Member Alex Binghay, who earlier offered himself as the party’s candidate in the 3rd congressional district.

From other sources it was learned that Binghay  was earlier approached by party leaders and was asked to give way in the event that Governor Garcia would choose to run for a House seat since she already transferred her voters registration to the 3rd district in April as a fallback.

Asturias Mayor Allan Adlawan said the governor should  decide in the next few  weeks since the Oct. 1-5 deadline for filing COC is fast approaching.

“These things will be announced. She is also weighing matters. We could not say she will heed our request (to reconsider a Senate campaign) right away. There are many things to be considered. Deep in our hearts we want to believe,” Adlawan said.

The mayor said they already aired their sentiments to the governor and that it’s up to her  to decide.

Adlawan said Garcia told them she would also talk with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) which included her in their Senate slate.

“If we make requests to the governor, she will always listen. She said she’ll have to consider our recent request heartily within a few days. She could not delay it,” he said.

The governor can’t seek reelection when her third term ends in 2013.

Her younger brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district, will be  One Cebu party s gubernatorial candidate with former Danao vice mayor Ramon “Boboy” Durano XIV as running mate.

He faces off with Davide and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.

Mayor Adlawan said they cannot deny the  results of national surveys where Garcia is not  in the top 12, the number of slots open for the Senate.

The governor has been highly lately in rural visits where she distributes Capitol financial assistance in disaster-struck areas and guesting in national TV news programs.

She was also endorsed by UNA stalwarts Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former president Joseph Estrada in her State of the Province Address last July.

The LP doesn’t have a candidate yet for the 3rd district.

Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha, a doctor on her second term as mayor, is interested in the post.

Her father Dr. Antonio Yapha was a former 3rd district  congressman.

“I would always expect they would endorse Governor Gwen. Whoever One Cebu will field I will welcome it. It would be challenging. We’re just hoping for the best,” she added.

He earlier said he suspects that Garcia won’t pursue her Senate bid.

“She wasn’t  doing well in the surveys,” Davide said.