CEBU, Philippines – It’s official.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has finally announced her decision to run for the Senate in the 2013 elections under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Garcia, who is on her third and last term as governor, said her decision to seek a Senate seat is not for her but for Cebu and their political party, One Cebu, in preparation for the 2016 presidential elections.
“This is another mountain to climb,” she said.
Garcia initially planned to announce her political plans in July during her State of the Province Address but One Cebu, the province’s ruling party which she chairs, had an organizational meeting last Thursday night at the Marco Polo Hotel in Cebu City where this was discussed.
Joining the UNA slate, according to Garcia, is a way to express Cebu’s readiness to “stake our name on the line” and not just on words of support for the alliance’s entire slate.
Last April 19, during the birthday of former President Joseph Estrada, Binay reserved a slot for Garcia under the UNA ticket.
Garcia said she was elated and thankful that the three pillars of UNA – Binay, Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile – gave her a slot in the alliance’s senatorial slate.
Garcia said such consideration is recognition of Cebu’s unity and its being a vote-rich area or bailiwick during elections.
“Cebu has, in times past, spelled the difference in the presidential election. With a united Cebu, makadeliver gyud (it can deliver votes). Cebu might spell the difference,” said Garcia, the province’s first woman governor.
Members of One Cebu expressed their support for Garcia’s decision to run for the Senate.
Borbon Mayor Butch Sepulveda said Garcia should “keep the momentum” from being the first woman governor of Cebu to being the first Cebuana senator.
Provincial board member Jude Durano Sybico said Garcia has a unique talent that is worthy of sharing to the national level, while fellow provincial board member Wilfredo Caminero said he is willing to crisscross Mindanao to help campaign for her.
In the same meeting last Thursday, the governor’s brother, Cebu third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia, disclosed that he would run for governor.
“I am up to the challenge and I can lead this province to even greater heights than my sister (did in) the past nine years,” he said.
He said he still has many things to work on because only a portion of the province knows his work. He asked the mayors to help him disseminate his intention to serve the province as “a credible alternative to what the other party has to offer.”
Earlier, Gov. Garcia said the party’s choice for the governorship has the “competence, capability, winnability and can (give assurance on) the sustainability of the provincial government’s programs.” – Freeman News Service