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Cebu City's opposition leaders were invited yesterday to carry the presidential bid of Sen. Manuel Villar, who flew to Cebu for several meetings.
The offer, however, puts Jonathan Guardo of Kugi Uswag Sugbu (Kusug) in an awkward spot.
He still owes some loyalty to former president Joseph Estrada, endorser of his Arthro supplement TV commercials, who was also in Cebu yesterday
“They wanted us to join, but I told Villar that we still have to consult other party leaders,” Guardo told Cebu Daily News.
Guardo and Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann delos Santos met the millionaire senator for breakfast at his hotel. Villar's wife Cynthia joined them.
The senator, who is known to be among the biggest pre-campaign spenders in TV commercials to raise his national profile, offered to let Kusug form his local slate in Cebu City, said Guardo.
In turn, Guardo said he asked the senator: “What does the local party get in terms of support?”
Discussions are expected to continue as political alignments remain fluid until the Nov. 20 to 30 deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy.
Last Friday, Villar told editorial staffers in a roundtable discussion with Cebu Daily News he was not in a hurry to select local partners for his presidential bid because the “local politics in Cebu is complicated” with no final lineup of local candidates.
“I want to court everybody. But of course you want to talk with iyong pinaka malakas. Kilala ko naman silang lahat,” he told CDN. Villar is standard bearer of the Nacionalista Party.
The opposition Kusug hasn't declared candidates for Cebu city mayor and vice mayor.
Guardo and delos Santos are running for congressional seats in Cebu City's south and north district, but both said they were open to the prospect of joining the mayoral and vice mayoral race, if there is a clamor from supporters.
Guardo said that while Kusug has yet to decide on their national candidates, “we realize the need for us to align with a national party”.
“It will become a primary objective in the coming days... No commitment were made.”
The two Kusug leaders also met former president Estrada late Saturday afternoon.
Estrada was in Cebu since Friday night to attend the birthday party of Carlos Yeung, wife of his good friend, Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung.
Guardo said that even if Estrada was an endorser for his Athro food supplement product, they have not been able to discuss political plans in Estrada's past visits to Cebu.
“Whatever political commitments we will make, we have to make it as a group,” he said, saying he wanted to consult other Kusug leaders like former mayor Alvin Garcia.
During Saturday breakfast meeting, Villar explained his plans and policy direction should he be elected Philippine president.
“He (Villar) presented his plans for the country, what he would do. He tried to differentiate himself with the other aspirants especially the leading contender, Noynoy Aquino,” Guardo told CDN.
Villar talked about his managerial skills and confidence in his ability to properly run the country's affairs.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña said in a separate interview that he would continue to support senators Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Roxas of the Liberal Party.
Osmeña said he said he was “right” in predicting earlier that Guardo would eventually abandon Estrada to favor Villar.
Senator explores allies in Cebu
WHO else lined up to meet Sen.Manuel Villar?
On Friday night, it was Gov. Gwen Garcia and younger brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of the 3rd district. They met at a businessman's office at the North Reclamation Area according to reliable source. Details were not disclosed.
Other meetings were scheduled over the weekend with Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez Jr., Rep. Eduardo Gullas of the 1st district and former Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano. Villar also met were friends and supporters from the 4th and 6th district.
Villar arrived in Cebu on Friday afternoon on a private plane.
After the 4:30 p.m. roundtable forum with Cebu Daily News staff, Villar went to the office of businessman Ding Borja to meet Governor Garcia and her congressman brother.
Villar's Cebu supporters led by Borja have been arranging meetings between the senator and local leaders for the weekend visit.
Both Governor Garcia and Sanchez could not be reached for comment yesterday. The governor was entertaining guests from China late yesterday afternoon.
“I am aware that Villar's people have been trying to arrange a meeting between her (the governor) and Villar. But I have no idea whether it ever pushed through,” said Rep. Garcia when sought for comment.
He denied reports that he arranged the meeting between the governor and Villar.
Rep. Garcia said he was in the 3rd district all day Friday until past midnight.
“I was under the impression that he (Villar) came here to announce Greg's candidacy for vice governor,” he told CDN.
Sanchez said he has resgined from Governor Garcia's One Cebu party and may consider running for office under another party, or retiring from politics altogether.
