LP, NP to coalesce on Monday - Gullas

 CEBU, Philippines - Cebu First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas yesterday announced that by Monday, the Nacionalista Party (NP) and Liberal Party (LP) will sign an agreement formalizing their coalition.

Although Gullas is provincial chairman of NP, he said in a press conference yesterday that he has yet to decide if his team would carry Hilario Davide III, LP’s candidate for Cebu governor, or Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia of One Cebu.

With the formal coalition, NP and LP are supposed to support each other’s candidates but Gullas clarified that the national parties may have to carry all senatoriables but the local parties will “fend for themselves as long as their candidates will win.”

He explained that in a coalition, it is easier to control the national level but the local scene is another thing. He stressed that the first district is not a free zone, it will still be carrying some LP candidates.  The congressman will file his certificate of candidacy on October 5 as Ala-yon’s mayoralty bet in Talisay City.

Gullas admitted that he already met the two aspirants for governor - Garcia with his governor-sister and father, second district Rep. Pablo Garcia while he met Davide through his son Gerald Anthony as the two were classmates in high school.

The congressman said it is difficult for him to choose between the two as he was also close to Davide’s father, the former chief justice.

Recent events in the first district, though, showed the Garcias being frequently seen with the Gullases. Gullas was also vocal in his support for the governor’s senatorial bid. (The governor, however, already announced she is running for congress instead.)

As for Davide, Gullas told the media that he heard the LP provincial chairman declared in a media interview that it’s San Fernando town Mayor Antonio Canoy, who defeated Alayon’s mayoralty bet Lakambini Reluya, who “calls the shots” for LP in the first district.

The congressman said he just let it pass and did not make a comment on it. “I respect Junjun.”

Davide, who resigned as Cebu City Councilor, was defeated by Governor Garcia in the 2010 elections. He, however, won in the first congressional district. But Gullas said that he has five of the six mayors in his district who listen to him.  (FREEMAN)