Gov: Ex-CJ Davide won't join politics

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Hilario “Jun-jun” Davide III said that his father is not inclined to run for a senatorial seat.

This he said after his father, former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr., was included on the list of possible senatorial candidates under the opposition for the May 2019 polls.

In a report, 18 names were floated including another former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, actor Dingdong Dantes, former senator Mar Roxas, former social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman,  re-electionist senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, former-Quezon representative Erin Tañada, lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, former-Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, former Akbayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, former-presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, singer-actress Agot Isidro, Manolo Quezon III, singer Leah Navarro, singer Jim Paredes, Samira Gutoc, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, and Gary Alejano.

“Di na akong papa. He has no appetite to politics,” he said in a conference with reporters yesterday.

He added that his father has served the government for decades through the Department of Justice (DOJ).

He continued that one politician in their family is enough.

Davide III is the chair of the Liberal Party here in Cebu Province and has been governor of Cebu since 2013.

In earlier interviews, he already expressed his intention to run next year. Should he win, it will be his third and final term as governor.

Even if his father expressed that he has no plans yet to run for the Senate, Davide III is confident that his father will help in his gubernatorial bid.

Meanwhile, he is yet to publicly disclose who will be part of his slate for the May 2019 polls.

“Mahibaw-an ra na ninyo unya,” he said.

In previous interviews, Davide has been expressive that he wants incumbent Vice Governor Agnes Magpale to be his running mate next year.

However, Magpale had already announced that she intends to retire from politics after her term expires next year.

She cited that she wants to spend her remaining years with her family after over a decade in the public service. (FREEMAN)