Cebu’s ruling party endorses Gibo, nixes Edu for Loren

The ruling party in Cebu province on Saturday formally endorsed administration standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr., but dumped his running mate Eduardo Manzano in favor of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) bet Loren Legarda. Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, head of the province’s ruling party One Cebu, announced in a press conference that the party has chosen to back Teodoro and Legarda in the coming May polls. “They would work for Cebu’s agenda and interest through principled politics," she said. The announcement dispelled rumors that One Cebu was divided in its support for Teodoro. Five representatives from One Cebu reportedly met with Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manuel Villar Jr. on Wednesday to discuss a possible alliance. Although Legarda’s vice-presidential candidacy is in the NPC’s name, she is running together with the NP slate. In the same press conference, Garcia likewise named One Cebu’s choices for senatorial bets, which come from five different parties. They are:

• NP’s Gilbert Remulla, Adel Tamano and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.;
• Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s Ramon Revilla Jr., Lito Lapid and Ramon Guico;
• Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino’s Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Francisco Tatad;
• Liberal Party’s Franklin Drilon and Ruffy Biazon; and
• NPC’s Vicente Sotto III.

Based on data culled by GMANews.TV, One Cebu has about 70 candidates for local positions in the province. It currently holds five congressional seats. Garcia clan for Gibo, too Three members of Cebu’s influential Garcia clan have also openly expressed support for Teodoro. In a proclamation rally in Argao town in Cebu on Friday night, Gov. Garcia said she and her family “firmly stand behind" the Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet. Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s third district also expressed support for Teodoro. "As far as our family in the province is concerned, we support Gibo," he said. The clan patriarch, Lower House Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, also attended the proclamation rally to show support for Teodoro. The Garcia clan’s endorsement of Teodoro came two days after one of its members, Cebu City mayoralty candidate Alvin Garcia, forged an alliance with Villar along with members of the local opposition party, Kusug. According to latest Commission on Elections (Comelec) data, Cebu, one of the country’s most vote-rich provinces, has more than 2 million registered voters listed for the coming May polls. During the 2004 presidential elections, administration party candidate President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo won in Cebu by about a million votes over closest rival, actor Fernando Poe Jr.—JV, GMANews.TV