CEBU, Philippines - As far as the Commission on Elections is concerned gubernatorial candidate Glenn Anthony Soco is still running under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino.
Comelec provincial supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said that their office received a fax from PMP stating that the said party withdrew its Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance of Soco.
“Nakadawat mi og fax gikan sa PMP signed by Atty. Simeon Garcia, nga gi-withdraw nila ang ilang certificate of nomination ngadto kang Glenn Soco,” said Castillano.
After receiving the fax Castillano called up the law department and asked for advice on what to do since it was only a fax.
“Kay fax ra man, so niingon ang law department nga ‘wait until you receive the original’. Original gyud kuno ang pangitaon kay it could not be certain if it’s true or not,” Castillano said.
The provincial Comelec also called the number that appeared on the fax, but the number could not be reached.
Castillano said that they waited yesterday but no original copy arrived, so Soco is a certified PMP candidate.
“As far as we are concerned, we will follow the advice of the law department so dili na ma-consider nga independent candidate si Glenn Soco. Since we were not able to receive any original copy, amo action ato kay deemed not filed, kay original man ang among kinahanglan, upon the advice of the law department. Amo lang gihapon i-submit ang maong fax sa law department for record purposes,” Castillano said.
Soco’s running under PMP earlier raised possible conflict among allied parties because PMP is part of the United Nationalist Alliance which is allied with the One Cebu Party which is fielding Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV.
One Cebu secretary general and third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia said that they have tried to dissuade Soco, and even offered to support him if he ran for Congress or provincial board in the sixth district but it seems Soco is bent on running for vice governor no matter what.
Soco ran in 2010 under One Cebu but lost to the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. and just last week lost his election protest before the Court of Appeals. He vowed to continue the fight before the Supreme Court.
Sanchez died last year and was replaced by PB member Agnes Magpale, who is now running for the post under the Liberal Party.
Pablo John questioned Soco’s CONA from PMP, considering that PMP is UNA and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is the one authorized to issue CONA for UNA in the Cebu Province.
The gubernatorial aspirant also added that Soco has not formally resigned from One Cebu but Soco’s actions speak of the latter’s voluntary disengagement from the party.
Earlier, when One Cebu named Boboy Durano as the party’s vice gubernatorial candidate, Soco still announced he will run again for vice governor. Last May he was quoted in news reports saying he met with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who invited him to join PMP, the party of deposed president Joseph Estrada.
Soco said he will run with or without a national political party.
“What is important is I have decided to run. Even if I will be an independent candidate, I will still run for vice governor. I will respect whatever decision that will be rendered by PMP,” said Soco.(FREEMAN)