Martinez to back Gwen, Junjun in 2013 polls

He ran against her in 2007, but Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. yesterday said he will support former rival Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia if she runs for senator in next year’s elections.

In yesterday’s launch of the Libertad Natural Gas Power Plant in Bogo City, Martinez also said he supports former Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III’s bid to become Cebu governor.

“Of course, she’s a Cebuano,” Martinez said when asked if he was ready to back Garcia.

Martinez said he always supported any Cebuano who ran for national office.

During a stint in Congress, Martinez said he backed former Cebu governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña when he ran for president in 1998.

He said House Speaker Jose de Venecia, who also sought the presidency, tried to get his support.

Garcia has yet to announce whether or not she will seek a seat in the Senate. She belongs to the local One Cebu Party.

Martinez, who is affiliated with Liberal Party , said he has always been a loyal party member.

When asked if he would agree to a Davide tandem with Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, Martinez said he is ready to help anyone whom the LP will nominate.

For his own political future, Martinez said he will seek a third term as mayor of Bogo City.

He said he has no interest in running for governor because his “years have passed.”

Martinez said his platform when he ran against Garcia was the creation of two highways, one connecting Cebu City to the northern towns and another to the southern towns.

He also wanted to make the fourth district “the food basket of the province.”

Since he can’t finish these projects if he were governor, Martinez said, he would rather focus on newly created Bogo City, where he intends to leave a legacy.

He said his son Celestino Martinez III is concentrating on putting up a business, but he can’t say for certain if “Tining” will run in the next elections.

The younger Martinez lost to Rep. Benhur Salimbangon of the 5th district in 2010.