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CEBU CITY, Philippines – Will the opposition in Cebu City field veteran politicians in the 2010 elections, or will young blood be dominating their roster of candidates?
Former mayor Alvin Garcia said leaders of Kugi Uswag Sugbo (Kusog) were pushing him to run for mayor. But Kusog may also field Lahug barangay (village) Captain Mary Ann de los Santos, Jonathan Guardo, Aristotle Batuhan and Garcia’s son Raymond, who ran for vice mayor in 2007 but lost to Michael Rama.
“We will look also the next generation of leaders. They have better ideas for the future of Cebu,” Garcia said.
“As of now, they are consulting me on whether I’ll really run or not,” he said. “I still can’t say, but for now, I’ll just remain behind the scenes.”
Whoever Kusog picks as their mayoral bet is likely to face off against Rama, who is the mayoral bet for Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), which dominates City Hall.
Garcia said it was still too early to make a decision about running in the 2010 elections.
Also, he said he did not want to make any conclusive announcements while Mayor Tomas Osmeña is being treated for cancer in the United States.
While Garcia and Osmeña are now political rivals, the former mayor said he wished Osmeña – once his close ally – well.
“Even if our relationship is not that good now, we went back a long way. We were friends for a long time,” Garcia said.
“He and I are estranged and it may remain that way, but that doesn’t mean he is my enemy or that I hold a grudge against him,” Garcia said.
Guardo, who ran for the position of Cebu City south district representative in 2007 but lost to Representative Antonio Cuenco, confirmed that Garcia was being pushed to run again for mayor.
Guardo described Garcia as a “formidable candidate” who was popular and was a good leader.
He said many barangay captains may support Garcia in the next elections because they were disappointed with Osmeña’s leadership.
Cebu City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said that while he was allied with BO-PK, he could not speak for the group’s leaders.
He said he would wait for Rama to comment on Garcia’s possible candidacy in 2010.
Before Mayor Osmeña left for the United States, he designated Vice Mayor Rama as acting mayor.
Rama left for Bangkok, Thailand, last week to attend an environment forum. He proceeded to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to attend a conference on waterfront development.
Rama designated Councilor Hilario Davide III as acting mayor until Rama returns this weekend. /Correspondents Chris A. Ligan and Jully Venus Cuizon
