Gwen confirms move to Barili

CEBU, Philippines - Is Governor Gwendolyn Garcia running for a national office or is she getting ready for a congressional bid?

New speculations on Garcia’s plans for next year’s elections have cropped up after she made it official that she will transfer her registration from the town of Dumanjug to Barili.

Dumanjug is in the 2nd Congressional District while Barili, which is adjacent to it, is in the 3rd District.

Garcia yesterday confirmed that she will indeed transfer her registration on Thursday next week.

She, however, shot down speculations that she is seeking the congressional seat, which is currently held by her brother Pablo John.

“That’s one of the options that we are contemplating but it doesn’t mean anything more,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.

“Perhaps there are reasons nganong mobalhin ko not entirely political,” (Perhaps there are reasons why I am transferring not entirely political) she said.

Political pundits say that this could mean that Pablo John, who is now on his second term, would be running for governor to replace Gwen, who is not allowed to run for the same position due to the three-term limit rule.

After the long period of being a registered voter in the second district, Gov. Garcia said that people in the 3rd District might also need her care.

Should she run for congress, Garcia might be facing former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña, who earlier expressed his intention to challenge Pablo John.

The governor has also been heralded by the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay as one of their senatorial bets next year.

If she decides to run for senator, it would not matter where she would be registered as a voter.

The governor earlier said there is no big deal about transfer of her registration.

Surprised brod

Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia, younger brother of the governor and president of the League of Municipal Mayors-Cebu, said that he was surprised about this talk of Gwen running for senator as he knows his sister is most likely seeking the congressional seat of the 3rd District.

“I’m surprised with this latest development. All along I thought she is going to run as congresswoman but we will have a meeting tonight (last night), we will wait and see. I’m sure there will be some development,” said Nelson, who is also the LMP national executive vice president.

Whatever position next

In a speech before the Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Cebu Council yesterday, the governor promised to support the movement until her term ends on June 30, 2013 and in whatever position she would be holding after that.

Some observers say that she could be hinting of her plans to run for senator.

“Sadly my term will end on the 30th of June 2013. But it won’t be the end of the world.

“There will always be another sunrise and another day. As I stand here before you, I commit my unequivocal support not only while I am governor, I will continue to support the BSP-Cebu Council even after I shall have fully served my third and last term and even after I shall have also moved on to whatever position God and country, and our people will give me.”

The governor was inducted as honorary chairperson of the BSP-Cebu Council.

Endorsement

Lawyer Augusto Go, BSP-Cebu Council chairman emeritus, in his closing remarks announced that he is endorsing the governor for senator.

Go, owner of University of Cebu, described Garcia as the best incumbent governor in the country.

When asked for a reaction, Garcia said that it was a very powerful endorsement coming from a Cebuano, who is greatly esteemed and honored.

On being named as a senatorial bet of UNA, Garcia said that this is an extreme honor and privilege not just for her, but for the Cebuanos, whose votes are given importance in the national scene.

Binay and Garcia are scheduled to meet on April 30 here in Cebu during the birthday celebration of Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay.—/NLQ (FREEMAN)