Retired seafarer tries to unseat Governor Garcia

CEBU, Philippines — A retired seafarer will try to unseat incumbent Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in next year's midterm elections.

This, as Cebu 4th district representative Janice Salimbangon disputed criticism by her detractors that she has done nothing or so little for her district, and former Cebu City councilor Nin~a Mabatid is staging a comeback for her old seat, this time as an independent candidate.

In the first district of Cebu, Rep. Rhea Mae Gullas also filed her COC yesterday, seeking reelection for a second term in office.

Gullas, the wife of Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, is seeking for her second term as congresswoman, even if a lot people doubted her when she first ran, knowing that she is a wife and a mother, she said that juggling both as a woman was her “greatest asset.”

“This journey has been more than just a job—it has been a calling rooted in love, faith, and an unshakable belief in the people of the First District of Cebu,” the congresswoman said in her social media post.

“It gave me resilience, empathy, and the courage to face challenges head-on. Naipakita na nako nga ang kusog DILI GIKAN SA TITULO KUNDI SA AKSYON. Ang baroganan og determinasyon maoy tinuod nga kalig-on,” she added.

Gullas said that although she made progress and brought services closer to the towns and cities of the first district of Cebu, she believed that she can do more and continue what she has worked on in her first term.

“This second term is a continuation of that STRENGTH,” she said.

She hoped that voters of the first district will continue to trust in her leadership unite for a more improved first district.

She was accompanied by her supporters, along with first district town and city mayors, and other officials, when she filed her COC.

Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas, Carcar City Mayor Patricio Barcenas, San Fernando Mayor Mytha Canoy, Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv Enad, Sibonga Mayor Mariano Laude were present to witness the congresswoman’s filing.

Meanwhile, Salimbangon said she poured in over P5 billion worth of various infrastructure projects from 2023 to 2024 alone in her district, particularly in Bogo City and the towns of Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, San Remigio, Tabogon, and Tabuelan.

The reelectionist legislator said that these infrastructure projects include construction of concrete roads, multi-purpose buildings, asphalting overlays, road widenings, drainage structures, solar water systems, retrofitting/strengthening of bridges, and pumping stations.

Salimbangon said that she also initiated the construction of the Madridejos Municipal Hall and construction of school buildings, among others.

“Kani ha, 2023 to 2024 pa lang ni nga mga projects. Wa na lang nako giapil ang akong mga infrastructure projects nga nahimo na since 2019. Kay kung apilon pa to nako, mahimo nang libro,” she said.

Salimbangon said that since its political season, she will just instead focus on serving her constituents, who themselves know how hard she works as their congresswoman in continuing the legacy left behind her husband, former Cebu 4th district representative Benhur Salimbangon.

The lady legislator, who is now on her last term, said that she plans to continue the ongoing projects in her district, as well as pushing for the passage of her pending bills in Congress.

She also said that her health cards program, a program started by her late husband, still continues, giving free medical assistance that benefitted thousands of her constituents.

“Dili na ko makaihap kung pila na ka mga constituents nako ang naka-benefit sa health cards. Ang mga tawo na ang mag-igo kung naa ba koy nahimo o wala. Basta ako padayon ang serbisyong Tatak Salimbangon,” she added.

The lady legislator and Atty. Nelson Mondigo, who is running for Cebu fourth district board member, filed their respective certificate of candidacy (COC) yesterday.

During their filing of their COCs, they were both joined by Tabogon Mayor Francis Salimbangon, Tabuelan Mayor Rex Gerona, Medellin Mayor Benjun Mondigo, and several supporters.

Last October 3, Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura likewise filed his COC for congressman of the fourth district of Cebu Province, setting himself for a clash with Salimbangon.

As reported, Shimura said that Governor Garcia tried to mediate with them as they both expressed support for the governor’s candidacy in next year’s elections.

Salimbangon is the official candidate of One Cebu for the fourth district congressional seat while Shimura runs under the banner of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino party.

“Ingon si Gov ang protocol, walay sakahan nga entablado, wala siyay (Garcia) iisa nga kamot,” said Shimura.

Cebu City Politics

In Cebu City, controversial businesswoman-turned-politician Nina Mabatid takes another shot in local politics after losing to make it to congress in the last elections.

After losing tin incumbent north district Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar in 2022, Mabatid hopes to make a comeback in the Cebu City Council.

Mabatid, who had faced allegations of illegal recruitment scams, is running as an independent candidate, this time.

“Of course, naay nag-invite (political parties) but ako gyud ng i-discern og unsay angayan…. I don’t want to be in a political party nga dili ko maka-express sa akong kaugalingon, nga diktaran ko sa akong mga decisions, unya diktahan ta unsay dili or suportahan nga resolutions…. I don’t want to be a puppet (city) councilor,” Mabatid said.

Mabatid, however, said, she is waiting for someone to consider running as mayor because she would align herself with him, but she declined to name the person, except to say that he is definitely not the unnamed “ungo sa City Hall”.

At the moment, though, she enjoys the support of at least 39 barangay captains in her bid, while she also expressed thanks to those who trooped to the Comelec office yesterday and supported her candidacy.

She said she would champion universal health care, if given another chance to serve the people of Cebu city again, even utilizing her own funds, and also pledged to support resolutions and ordinances that would be beneficial for the Cebuanos.

“If given the privilege nga makalingkod kog balik sa City Council, mo-support gyud ko sa tanang ordinances and resolutions nga makaayo sa Cebuanos, ug dili ko mo-support sa resolutions nga makakwarta lang ang pulitiko,” Mabatid said.

Former Seaman

On the retired seafarer running for Cebu governor, Valeriano Gingco, 67, of Brgy. Baring, Carmen, Cebu, filed his COC before the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES) last Friday, October 4.

Running as an independent candidate, he said he wants to apply what he learned from other countries during the time when he was working overseas.

"Ang experience ko seaman for 34 years. Nakita ko doon sa ibang bansa yung wala rito," Gingco told members of the press.

He said that one of the problems in the country that he wants to address is the worsening situation of the country because of corruption.

"Dito sa atin 'yung korapsyon sobra na.... Kung mananalo ako, talagang ia-apply ko yung sa labas. Para sa Pilipinas, marami akong maa-apply dito. Oil prices may sagot ako dyan, yung bigas," Gingco said.

As of now, Gingco is the lone filer for the position of governor.

Governor Garcia is expected to filed her COC on October 8. — (FREEMAN)