120 Aspirants Vying For 40 Cebu Positions

CEBU — Rep. Eduardo Gullas ended speculations on his political plans by filing his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Talisay City an hour before midnight Wednesday, the deadline of registration for local positions.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Gullas still had not come to a decision, making up his mind only after receiving late assurances of support from Talisay residents.

"There was an outpouring of support in the form of manifestos from ordinary residents," said Gullas, who authored the bill granting cityhood to Talisay.

The congressman, whose residency in Barangay Tangke is still being questioned in court, was accompanied by his running mate, Alan Bucao, and nine members of his councilor slate when he filed his certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections office in Talisay.

"I really had no intention to run. That’s the truth. I said I am not going to run unless there is a draft from the people themselves," said Gullas, who is serving his third and last term in Congress.

Five minutes after Gullas’ group trooped to the Comelec, another mayoralty aspirant, former mayor Dehlia Tiu, led her own group of cheering supporters to file her certificate of candidacy. Her running mate is her own brother, Raul Bacaltos.

Aside from Tiu, Gullas will also be facing his former staunch supporter and ally, re-electionist Mayor Socrates Fernandez, in the polls.

The Comelec recently approved Gullas’ application for transfer of his voter’s registration from Minglanilla to Barangay Tangke in Talisay.

Meanwhile, a total of 120 candidates registered for Cebu’s 40 city, provincial and congressional positions.

In Cebu City, 65 are running for the 18 available positions of mayor, vice mayor and 16 councilors, while the 14 available provincial positions attracted 37 candidates.

For the eight congressional districts, two of them in the city, there are 18 official candidates.

In Cebu City, the candidates for mayor are re-electionist Alvin Garcia of Kusug and comebacking Tomas Osmeña of Abag-Promdi, with running mates Rico Rey Francis Holganza and Michael Rama, respectively.

For governor, the race has drawn four candidates, led by re-electionist Pablo Garcia of Abag-Promdi, who is being challenged by Vice Gov. Fernando Celeste of Alayon, Inocentes Ouano of Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa, and Valeriano Pugoy, an independent.

There are only two candidates for vice governor: board member John Gregory Osmeña of Alayon and former fourth district Rep. Celestino Martinez Jr. of Promdi.

Four are running for Cebu City’s two congressional seats: comebacking former Rep. Raul del Mar of Abag-Promdi, who is running unopposed in the north district, and former Rep. Antonio Cuenco of Abag-Promdi, Aristotle Batuhan of Kusug and independent Mussolini Batucan who will slug it out in the south district.

For the six congressional seats in the province, a total of 14 candidates are running.

In the first district, it is a toss-up among three political newcomers: Jose "Dodong" Gullas of Alayon, Napoleon Rama Jr. of Abag-Promdi, and Jose Marie Lozada, an independent.

In the second district, re-electionist Rep. Simeon Kintanar of Alayon is being challenged by former Rep. Crisologo Abines of Abag-Promdi and independent candidates Ricardo Suarez and Fil-Roger Kintanar.

In the third district, re-electionist Rep. Antonio Yapha of Alayon is being challenged by newcomer Jose Soberano III of Abag-Promdi.

Another re-electionist, Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez of Abag-Promdi, is being challenged in the fourth district by Madridejos Mayor Doroteo Salazar of Alayon.

Fifth district Rep. Joseph "Ace" Durano is unopposed. His uncle Thadeo Durano earlier threatened to challenge him, but instead filed for a municipal position.

In the sixth district, the showdown will be between Rep. Efren Herrera and former Rep. Nerissa Soon Ruiz.

Thirty-one aspirants are vying for the 12 provincial board slots, and 16 for the Cebu City council. — Freeman News Service