Alayon Party patriarch and outgoing 1st district Rep. Eduardo Gullas administered the oath of office to his party members who won in the last elections.
Taking centerstage at the Casino Español in Cebu City yesterday were reelected Carcar City Mayor Nice Apura; Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong; Mayor Lani Peña of Minglanilla and Mayor Lionel Bacaltos of Sibonga.
Winning vice mayors and councilors were also sworn in by Gullas.
Conspicuously absent were outgoing Talisay City Mayor and incoming councilor Socrates Fernandez and Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, Jr., the congressman-elect of the 1st district.
Results of the May 13 elections reaffirmed Alayon’s hold of Cebu’s 1st district, with its mayoral candidates winning in four of the six local government units of the district.
Ironically, Gullas was defeated in the Talisay City mayoralty race by Johnny Delos Reyes of the Liberal Party (LP) by over 700 votes. Alayon’s Nenette Reluya also lost to LP’s Antonio Canoy in the San Fernando mayoralty race.
Fernandez was attending yesterday the turnover ceremony of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to governor-elect Hilario “Junjun” Davide III, while Samsam Gullas flew to Manila for his oath-taking administered by Sen. Manuel Villar for Naciolista Party members who won seats in the 16th Congress.
Fernandez, however, was present during the oath-taking of Delos Reyes last Sunday and even took the floor to throw his support to the new mayor.
But Gullas said that Fernandez is still with Alayon Party.
“Fernandez was with us in all our meetings and he is still under Alayon,” Gullas said.
Apologies
Speaking in behalf of his grandson, Rep. Gullas said that Samsam Gullas will work closely with barangay councils in his first term.
“I request all of you, just like how you help the humble servant Digul, I also ask all of you with utmost humbleness to help congressman Samsam,” Eduardo said in Cebuano.
He also apologized to his partymates for losing to Delos Reyes.
He said he conceded immediately to Delos Reyes against the advice of supporters to calm things down.
“I wanted tempers to calm down, never mind myself. I thought of our brothers and sisters of Talisay and the best way was to concede early and cool tempers because I was afraid that something bad might happen. I did’nt think about myself. What is important is the city of Talisay,” Gullas said.
But the veteran politician said he is not going to retire from public service.
“I can assure you that congressman Samsam and your humble friend Eddie Gul, although my term ends 2 days from now at high noon in June 30,2103, will be behind you and help you in every way and every day,” Eduardo said.