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The Cebu City opposition yesterday fielded ?decoy? candidates for mayor and vice mayor just to beat the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC).
A veritable unknown, Landolino Bontilao, filed his bid for mayor under the The Kugi Uswag Sugbu (Kusug).
His running mate is Jonah John Rodriguez, an employee of Sun.Star Cebu.
The maneuver was aimed to ?reserve? the spot for Winston Garcia, president of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), who has until Dec. 14 to decide whether to run for the post. Dec. 14 is the deadline for substitution of candidates.
Although hesitant, businessman Samuel ?Sammy? Darza filed his COC but not under Kusug where he is secretary general but as an independent candidate.
Bontilao arrived last night at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in downtown Cebu City about 11:20 p.m. accompanied by lawyer Raymund Garcia, Kusug candidate for north district councilor.
They left immediately after filing their COCs , avoiding interviews with reporters who had been waiting since yesterday for their arrival. When reporters caught up with Bontilao outside the Comelec office, he said was not able to turn down the offer to run for mayor under Kusug.
He wouldn?t say if he was just a temporary candidate. He said fielding him was agreed upon by the group.
Rodriguez, a long-time supporter of the Garcias, said substitution was not discussed in their meeting.
Fielding a temporary candidate was an arrangement reached by Darza and Winston during their closed door meeting on Monday night, said Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera.
?It is obvious that Winston has the intention to run for city mayor. We can very well say that (because) there were a series of meetings for that purpose. (Garcia and Darza) talked last night and agreed on that arrangement. Darza would run as independent and Winston, to field a decoy,? he said.
Garganera filed his COC as councilor in the north district. He said Winston Garcia had a running mate in mind but didn?t know who.
Garcia's cousin, former Mayor Alvin Garcia confirmed that it was their strategy to field Bontilao and Rodriguez just to beat the deadline and then replace them on or before the Dec. 14.
?Let them guess who would be our candidates. I didn't file but I could be a substitute and even Winston,? he said.
Darza, for his part, admitted that his decision to run was struggle.
?I don't want to run but I've been forced to run. There are certain things that I need to consider especially with regards to my family, the blessings of my family. There was a struggle for a few days and the hardest was today. I asked for some time to make my decision and I practically finished the whole day struggling with myself. That is the most difficult part,? Darza said.
Darza, Nacionalista Party liaison in Cebu City, said Sen. Manuel Villar and his wife Cynthia prodded him to run for mayor.
?Manner of speaking yes (Villar prodded him to run). Well, we had a conversation and we shared the same views on what needs to be done in this country for him national and for me the local we share the same views,? Darza said.
He said he decided to run as independent because his NP nomination had yet to arrive. But he said he would not back out of the race.
Darza arrived at the Comelec office with the rest of the council candidates of Kusug: Quiot barangay councilor Danilo Teves, Raul del Rosario, Danilo Lim, Anne Marie Vestil, Fritz Quiñanola, Danilo Fernan, Milagros Camacho and Ben Baculi.
Aside from Garganera, the north district slate has Patrick Talisaysay, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Jerry Guardo, Sulpicio Medequillo, Anastacio Masong and Jose Navarro.
Businessman Jonathan Guardo also filed his COC as Cebu City south district representative.
?They?re reserving it for me? - Winston
WINSTON Garcia yesterday seesawed in his decision whether to run for Cebu City mayor.
?If there is no need to decide, do not force yourself to decide. So if there is an option for me to decide until December 14, it does not matter if I decide to run (file) now or on Dec. 14,? Garcia told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview.
?I think they might be reserving that (slot) for me...I think they are giving me that option.?
Garcia said the Supreme Court ruling allowing appointed officials to stay in their posts and not having to resign if they file a certificate of candidacy was a gift from heaven ( ?hulog ng langit?).
?That might be a sign. But I have always been a hesitant candidate. Now that my obligations as president of GSIS can continue, I also have to consider my family. I have a 10-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter. I alway go home every weekend for my family. Lately, they (children) get jealous because I have been meeting a lot of people (about my possible candidacy),? he added.
Garcia said he also had to consider his friendship with two mayoralty candidates - Cebu City Vice Mayor Mike Rama, standard bearer of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) who was his classmate in San Beda law school, and Georgia Osmeña, his client, who is running as an independent.
Garcia flew to Manila yesterday morning to report for work at the GSIS. In an earlier interview, he said one of the reasons he hestitated to run was his unfinished business with the GSIS
Yesterday Garcia said he also had to consider the family's financial resources since his father, brother and sister were all seeking reelection.
?The resources of the family might be stretched. Our family supports each other. As of now we still have to review our resources,? said the GSIS president.
His father Rep. Pablo Garcia is seeking relection in the 2nd district, brother Rep. Pablo John Garcia in the 3rd district and eldest sister, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia in the province.
