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CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia officially endorsed on Monday, May 5, the senatorial bets under the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate but left out one candidate in her list — Camille Villar.
This happened during a One Cebu rally held at the Dumanjug Sports Complex, where Garcia named the Alyansa candidates one by one, asking residents there to support and vote for the senatorial bets.
Garcia named Abalos, Revilla, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Abby Binay, Manny Pacquiao, Vicente “Tito” Sotto, Lito Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, Francis Tolentino, and Pia Cayetano. At the venue, only President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Benhur Abalos and Bong Revilla, represented by his wife, Cavite 2nd District Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla, were present.
“Niingon na man ko daan nga basig One Cebu ang suportahan mga siyam, napulo [from Alyansa]. Mahibaw ra unya mo kung kinsa ang ika-onse. Ang ika-dose, abyerto na na, kamo na’y pili,” Garcia said.
(I already said that One Cebu may support only 9, 10 [from Alyansa]. You will know later who is the 11th. The 12th is open, you can decide)
The entire province of Cebu, including its metropolitan area in Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City, has at least 3.4 million registered voters who, in 2022, primarily voted for the Marcos-Duterte tandem. It’s one if not the most vote-rich provinces in the country.
The Cebu governor stressed that the ruling One Cebu party has 11 candidates on its list that, she said, “must come out victorious in Cebu.”
“Ang numero onse, ako nang amigo, kauban nako. Diha ra kutob (Number 11 is my friend, he is my companion. That is all),” Garcia added.
Villar was not mentioned in the governor’s speech and reelectionist Senator Imee Marcos announced on March 26, that she was no longer going to be part of her brother’s Alyansa slate.
Not all Tulfo alike
What came as a surprise for many local voters was Garcia’s inclusion of Tulfo, whose brother, Senator Raffy Tulfo, she recently had heated exchanges with on social media and in released statements.
On April 4, the incumbent Senator Tulfo visited the province-run Cebu North Bus Terminal which he heavily criticized for having multiple safety violations, calling buses there “bumibiyaheng ataul” or travelling coffins.
The governor slammed Tulfo for his alleged mistreatment of workers at the terminal but despite this, explained to voters at the Monday One Cebu rally in Dumanjug that not all family members think alike.
“Bisan og gipadayon ko og atake karon, ani ni Raffy Tulfo, karon makig-Senate investigation na sad siya (Even if I’m being attacked now by Raffy Tulfo, now he wants to do a Senate investigation)…in deference to the president and because I do believe this senatoriable is ready to defend Cebu, ato sab suportahan si Erwin Tulfo,” she said.
Did something happen?
In mid-April, Garcia held a One Cebu North Caravan at the Sogod town Municipal Gym with Alyansa bets Lacson, Sotto, Pacquiao and Villar. There, the candidates were able to campaign with the head of One Cebu, who is the governor herself.
On April 11, Garcia endorsed Lacson, Sotto, Cayetano, and Villar.
Prior to this, Abalos, Pacquiao, Tolentino, and Revilla joined Garcia at the start of her campaign for her One Cebu party on March 28.
Even during the president’s speech in Dumanjug, there was no mention of Villar.
“Meron din po nanggaling sa House of Representatives, subok na po sa batasan. Nandiyan po naging congressman, Congressman Abalos, Congressman Binay, Congressman Cayetano, Congressman Pacquiao, at si Congressman Tulfo,” Marcos’ speech went.
(We also have those from the House of Representatives, tested in lawmaking. We have those who became congressman, Congressman Abalos, Congressman Binay, Congressman Cayetano, Congressman Pacquiao, and Congressman Tulfo)
Las Piñas Representative Villar was not mentioned and this was not the first time it happened. Marcos also excluded Villar in his speech in an Alyansa sortie in Batangas on May 3.
Villar has also skipped three Alyansa sorties since she and Imee received the endorsement of Vice President Sara Duterte on April 21. – Rappler.com
