Davide: No ‘free-zone’ in Cebu; LP-NUP alliance ’confusing’

The party lines have been drawn in Cebu as Liberal Party provincial chairman Hilario “Junjun”  Davide III said there will be no free zones in the province.

Davide’s statement runs cicounter to an earlier pronouncement of  Deputy House Speaker and Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu’s 2nd district that the National Unity Party (NUP) that he heads had entered into an agreement with the administration party.

Garcia said in areas where there are NUP and LP candidates, a free zone  will be declared.

Davide said the LP-NUP coalition creates confusion in the local level, especially in Cebu where the Garcias have a local party, the One Cebu.

As part of the coalition, the NUP agreed to support the LP senatorial candidates.

“If the LP has no candidate, the NUP candidate will be the administration candidate. If both the NUP and the LP have candidates, it will be declared a free zone,” Rep. Garcia said.

Declaring election free zones would mean that an LP candidate for a local position can openly support senatorial candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance or other parties. On the other hand, Liberal Party senatorial candidates can opt to support local candidates of the NUP-One Cebu.

Asked if what will happen to Davide with this scenario, Garcia said “siya nay nahibaw ana.” (He knows what to do.)

Davide said the free zone idea is untenable in Cebu. In fact he added that President Benigno Simeon Aquino III will be joining some of the LP bets in their campaigns in the province.

Asked about the LP’s alliance with the Nacionalista Party where the local Alayon Party is affiliated, Davide said he hopes 1st district Rep. Eduardo Gullas will reconsider his decision to support One Cebu’s gubernatorial bet, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district.

“I respect the decision of the congressman… I do hope he would change his mind. The election is far off,” Davide said.