Gringo backs Gwen’s plea for justice

CEBU, Philippines - Re-electionist Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan sees his affiliation with the United Nationalist Alliance for the May 2013 election as an “encouraging experience”, especially in Cebu where he admits he has never done well in the past elections.

Honasan, a three-term senator who has always run as an independent candidate, sees the alliance of UNA with the One Cebu Party headed by suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia as effective.

During the proclamation rally of UNA’s senatorial slate in Cebu last month, Garcia assured all the national bets of the Cebuanos’ votes.

Although he is pleased to be part of the slate, Honasan said he is still banking on his “independence” to win in the coming election.  The senator was the first independent candidate to win a seat in the Senate in 1995.

He also said he is pushing for justice for Garcia on the issues their party mate is facing, including the case for grave abuse of authority that resulted in the suspension of the governor.

Garcia was meted a six-month suspension signed by the Office of the President last December.  Honasan said the timing is “questionable” with the elections just being months away.

He added that the issue at hand was obviously divisive but he hopes that Garcia will be given what is due to her.

“My minimum requirement is for her to be given due course,” he said.

Apart from UNA’s sorties Honasan said that they are all allowed to campaign separately, reason for him to be in Cebu last week to attend a number of events.

“Historically, I have not done very well sa Central Visayas,” admitted Honasan.  In Cebu specifically, he lost in all three times that he ran for senator.

He appealed to the Cebuanos to look at his track record, including all other senatorial candidates, and decide who has done well for the province and the country in general.   (FREEMAN)