Mayors under the Alayon Party of Cebu’s 1st district will still support Rep. Pablo John Garcia’s bid for the gubernatorial post in Cebu despite deciding to align with the Liberal Party (LP).
Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said Alayon Party mayors in the 1st district met last Saturday to discuss the coalition with the LP.
Chiong said that they are only supporting LP in the national level.
“The coalition is in the national level, we don’t have a problem with that as much as we, the mayors in the 1st district made a commitment to support PJ Garcia… We are supporting LP in the national level,” he said.
Chiong also said the mayors with Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district haven’t discussed any plans to take oath with LP.
“In as much we committed support to PJ in the local level, we stay with our commitment,” he said.
A coalition with LP wasn’t discussed earlier but Chiong said Gullas informed them that they have a “Certificate of Support” from the LP national party.
Chiong said they are waiting on Gullas on whom he’ll endorse as vice governor.
Other discussions in the meeting include the filing of certificates of candidacy scheduled next week.
In a text message to Cebu Daily News, Rep. Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district said he’s thankful to the mayors for their support.
“I am thankful to all the first district mayors of Alayon led by Mayor Val Chiong, for the reaffirmation of their support, though I feel it was unnecessary because I never for a moment doubted the support they expressed again and again,” he said.
Alayon candidates for mayors include Nicepura Apura of Carcar City, Valdemar Chiong of Naga City, Elanito Peña of Minglanilla, Lakambini Reluya of San Fernando, and Lionel Bacaltos of Sibonga.
Last July, One Cebu lost the Durano clan’s Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) party after it aligned itself with the LP and declared support for the tandem of Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.
Last Saturday, Rep. Tomas Osmeña confirmed a P400 million fund allocation for the Naga-Carcar road widening project, a pet program of Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district. /Carmel Loise Matus, Correspondent