Aquino may not campaign for Davide

CEBU, Philippines - Candidates of the Liberal Party (LP) in Cebu province cannot expect full support from their titular head in Malacañang if their opponents belong to the National Unity Party (NUP).

The LP had struck an alliance with NUP, but the latter also entered into a partnership agreement with One Cebu party.

After LP standard bearer Hilario Davide III announced that their local candidates would be left to fend for themselves in terms of funding, a free zone is expected in some cities and towns where NUP has candidates.

“That’s the understanding,” said Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, the NUP vice president for the Visayas.

With One Cebu party and NUP alliance, would there be a free zone then in the entire province, making it a more level playing field in the sense that neither third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia nor Davide’s hand will get to be raised by President Benigno Aquino III?

“It extends to NUP candidates. So if One Cebu/NUP, it’s applicable,” said One Cebu standard bearer Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, whose certificate of nomination is One Cebu/NUP.

If PJ is to be believed, President Aquino will not campaign for Davide in Cebu.

Salimbangon explained that if the area is free zone, the LP national leadership will not meddle in the activities in the local level.

Should there be support from the party, Salimbangon said that LP should also give the same support to NUP.

“Para man lang ni fair ang labanan ba,” he said.

LP’s standard bearer in Cebu, however, has another take on the matter.

“Hayahaya nila no. Of course not. There’s no such thing as free zone sa local. They can’t have their cake and eat it too,” said Davide in a text message to The Freeman.

There are at least eight LGUs in the fourth district whose candidates are bringing the banner of NUP against LP bets.

These are Bogo City and the towns of Bantayan, Madridejos, Sta. Fe, Tabuelan, Tabogon, San Remegio and Medellin.

In other LGUs like Boljoon, Borbon, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Mandaue City, Minglanilla, Naga, Poro, San Fernando, San Francisco, Sibonga and Talisay, neither One Cebu nor NUP field their candidates.

However, One Cebu has established alliance with the candidates of other parties against LP in these areas.

One Cebu has no candidates for mayor in Argao and Daanbantayan while LP also has no candidates for mayor in Alcantara, Alcoy, Asturias, Balamban, Bantayan, Dalaguete, Naga City, Sibonga and Toledo City.

While LP has no candidates for mayor in the fifth district but its ally, Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) party fielded their candidates.

Before the filing of the certificates of candidacy last week, LP and NUP officials signed a partnership agreement that would provide NUP support for LP senatorial candidates and to prevent rivalries in the local level. —/JPM (FREEMAN)