For 2013 local elections, Rep. Gullas eyes return to Talisay

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu 1st District Representative Eduardo Gullas will be running for mayor of Talisay City next year.

The head of the Alayon party, who is on his third term as congressman, is prevented from seeking reelection due to term limits.

This will be the second time that the veteran politician will run for mayor of the southern city. He was the mayor of Talisay from 2001 to 2004.

“I am prepared to offer myself to run as Mayor of Talisay City,” Gullas said yesterday during a press conference at his district office at the University of the Visayas-Main Campus.

The announcement was made in the presence of the mayors and vice mayors of the cities and towns belonging to the 1st District.

Decision

Before announcing his decision to seek for mayoralty post, Gullas said that he would have wanted to concentrate running the University of the Visayas, which is owned by their family and where he sits as president.

Gullas, who was mayor of Talisay from 2001 to 2004 after serving three terms in Congress, said the decision to run for mayor is only responding to call of service and after undergoing a “great deal of consultation” with the leaders of his political party.

He said that he wanted his son, Gerard Anthony “Didi” Gullas, to run for mayor of Talisay City, but the younger Gullas said he wants to concentrate on running the school where he is the vice president for finance and administration.

Gullas held various political offices over the past years.

Veteran Politician

He was elected member of the House of Representatives in 1969 and also became Cebu governor.

He denied allegations that his family is establishing a political dynasty in the district particularly in Talisay City.

Such allegations came about as Rep. Gullas anointed his grandson Gerard Anthony “Samsam” Gullas to run for the congressional seat that he would be vacating.

Another grandson, incumbent Talisay City Councilor Eduardo “Digul” Gullas III will be seeking reelection next year.

“Let’s submit it to the people and let the people decide. If they don’t like us, they can turn us down,” Gullas said.

So far, nobody from the opposition has come forward to express intent to run for mayor of Talisay City.

Nobody has also expressed interest to run for the congressional seat against Samsam.

The name of San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy, who is a known political foe of Gullas, was floated as congressional aspirant, but he has already announced his intention to seek reelection.

Other candidates

Incumbent Vice Mayor Alan Bucao will be the runningmate of Gullas next year.

Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, who is on his third and last term, will run for a seat in the city council.

During the press conference, Gullas also announced the complete line-up of their party’s candidates for mayor and vice mayor in the 1st District.

In the town of Minglanilla, Vice Mayor Elanito Peña will be running for mayor to replace Eduardo Selma, who is on his third and last term.

Selma’s son, Minglanilla’s number 1 councilor, Robert John ‘Jojo’ Selma, was anointed as the vice mayoralty bet.

Mayor Selma is a brother of the wife of Rep. Gullas, Norma.

In Naga City, Mayor Valdemar Chiong and Vice Mayor Delfin Señor would be seeking reelection.

This will be the same plan for Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura and Vice Mayor Mario Patrick Barcenas.

In Sibonga, Mayor Lionel Bacaltos and Vice Mayor Azucena Sesaldo will also seek reelection.

In San Fernando, the Alayon Party is expected to field former mayor Lakambini Reluya against Mayor Canoy. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)