AT AN ASSEMBLY in Cebu City that Liberal Party (LP) organizers dubbed “Gathering of Friends,” LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas and President Aquino flash the “laban” (fight) sign that became famous during the Edsa Revolution that toppled the dictatorship of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. But a political storm is brewing in the provinces of Capiz, also known as Roxas turf, and Cebu. JUNJIE MENDOZA/CEBU DAILY NEWS
Trouble is brewing among allies of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) in Cebu and Capiz provinces, less than two months before the start of filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2016 elections.
In Capiz, the home province of LP standard-bearer, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, there is an apparent split between two party stalwarts, Rep. Antonio del Rosario and Mayor Alan Celino of the capital, Roxas City.
On the other hand, LP members in the first district of Cebu fear being edged out in the party process of selecting candidates with the entry of the local Alayon party headed by Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas and his grandfather, former Rep. Eduardo Gullas.
Del Rosario, who is on his third and last term as congressman in Capiz’s first district, has publicly accused the Roxas City government of corruption. The capital and the towns of Maayon, Panay, Panitan, Pilar, Pontevedra and President Roxas compose the first district (population: 387,539 as of 2010).
Village chiefs identified with Mayor Celino have issued a manifesto, opposing the candidacy of Del Rosario for any position in next year’s elections.
Celino has denied that he is behind the move, claiming he already admonished the community leaders.
“I will not be running against (Del Rosario) for governor. Why will I do that to him?” he said.
Gubernatorial race
Del Rosario is seen as the LP’s candidate for governor to replace Gov. Victor Tanco, who is in his final term.
But the congressman said he had no definite plans yet and that he was concentrating on Roxas’ bid to win the presidential race. A former mayor of Roxas City, Del Rosario is considered one of the closest allies of Roxas.
The lawmaker dismissed the friction with Celino as “a slight conflict” that would be eventually settled. The mayor belonged to the opposition before he was plucked by the LP in 2010 to run against Vicente Bermejo, a former party stalwart who broke away from the Roxas camp. Bermejo had served as city mayor and governor.
Celino is expected to seek a third term next year. He, however, has engaged in a word war since last year with Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, a third-termer who also plans to run for mayor under the LP.
Dadivas said he and Celino were endorsing Roxas, but both were seeking the party’s support in the mayoral race.
City council divided
A scion of a political clan and husband of a niece of Del Rosario, Dadivas said he was seeking higher office because the city “needs new leadership.”
“Opportunity was lost” under five years of leadership of Celino, he said.
Factions identified with the two officials have crippled the city council. Nine pro-Celino councilors have refused to attend sessions officiated by Dadivas, claiming administrative violations committed by the vice mayor.
Some sessions called by Dadivas and two councilors were suspended due to lack of quorom.
Like Dadivas, Celino said he would support Roxas and was confident that the party would help him in his reelection bid.
In the 2010 presidential election, Roxas won against Jejomar Binay by a slim margin of 16,012 votes in Roxas City. Roxas garnered 39,609 (59.5 percent) against Binay’s 23,597 (35.4 percent). President Aquino got even more votes there than the Capiceño Roxas.
Roxas won in 15 towns but lost in Dao, hometown of controversial former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante who lost in the gubernatorial race against Tanco.
In contrast, Binay got a bigger voting percentage in his bailiwick, Makati City, getting 179,375 votes (64.3 percent) against Roxas’ 74,897 (26.85 percent).
LP vs Alayon
In Cebu, the LP has to resolve also the looming conflict between the original LP members in the first district and members of the Alayon party of the Gullases.
The first district is composed of the cities of Naga, Talisay and Carcar, and the towns of Minglanilla and Sibonga. Their combined population is at least 300,000.
According to outgoing Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong of Alayon, Roxas wanted Samsam Gullas to be the district chair of the LP and the district congressional candidate in 2016. He said this will not sit well with San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy, current LP district chair who reportedly wants to run for congressman too.
If Samsam moves to LP, he will be bringing with him his grandfather, Eduardo, and four of the six mayors in the district—Chiong, Lionel Bacaltos of Sibonga, Nicepuro Apura of Carcar City and Elanito Peña of Minglanilla. The problem is, they might face original LP members in the 2016 elections.
Eduardo, a former mayor of Talisay and congressman, might challenge the reelection bid of Talisay Mayor Johnny de los Reyes of the LP.
Chiong, who is on his last term, plans to field his daughter and executive assistant, Kristine, for the mayoral race in Naga, possibly against an LP member.
LP blessing
De los Reyes stressed that it would be impossible for him and Eduardo Gullas to be one in party. He added that he would not agree to a “free zone” in the local elections, saying the LP should support him being a loyal member.
In 2010, Alayon endorsed the presidential bid of then Sen. Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party even if it had formed an alliance with One Cebu, a party headed by the Garcias who supported presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro. Both Villar and Teodoro lost to President Aquino.
In the 2013 elections, Alayon allied with the LP in the national elections but didn’t put up a local slate in Cebu. Still, LP’s candi date, Hilario Davide III, won as governor and the party candidate in the first district.
The biggest loser was Eduardo Gullas, who lost to De los Reyes.