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Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. has formally tendered his resignation as ambassador and permanent representative of the Philippines to the United Nations (UN) to help campaign for his son and namesake who is running for governor under the Liberal Party.
Former Cebu City councilor Hilario ?Junjun? Davide III yesterday confirmed that his father tendered his resignation a couple of weeks ago which would take effect on April 1. He is expected to arrive in Cebu on April 4 to join his family celebrate Easter Sunday.
Davide Jr. is expected to start campaigning by the first week of April for Junjun who is running against Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who is seeking her third and last term as governor.
Junjun said it was a personal decision of his father to resign as Philippine ambassador to the UN to help him campaign.
He said his father?s decision was a natural act of a father to help a son and was not meant to pose any threat to the camp of Garcia.
?For me, any father would probably help his son if he runs for any government position. If I had a son who will run I would also do the same thing,? Junjun said.
His father arrived last Wednesday to attend an official function in Manila and will return to New York on March 20.
Lawyer Democrito Barcenas yesterday expressed confidence that the elder Davide would boost the gubernatorial bid of his son.
Barcenas said the former chief justice would always have an impact on the public.
?He (Davide Jr.) can be helpful to his son but I don't know to what extent. He might have lost contact with the people. (But) people still know him),? said Barcenas, chairman of the Aquino-Roxas Volunteers Cebu.
Barcenas said it was possible for the young Davide to beat Garcia.
?Gwen is not invincible. She can be defeated. The desire of the people for change (is Davide III edge). The only problem is that local candidates rout for Gwen,? Barcenas said.
But with the former chief justice on his son's side, Barcenas said Davide III's candidacy would have a boost.
?That's understandable. That's natural for a father who loves his son,? Barcenas said.
The elder Davide is a veteran of Cebu politics. He was first elected as delegate of the fourth district of Cebu in the 1971 Constitutional Convention. In 1978, he was elected as an assemblyman for Cebu in the Interim Batasang Pambansa under the opposition party Pusyon Bisaya.
After the People Power Revolt in 1986, Davide was appointed as one of the 50 commissioners in the Constitutional Commission by former president Corazon Aquino. Two years later, he was appointed Commission on Elections chairman.
Former President Joseph Estrada appointed Davide as the 20th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1998. In 2000, he presided in the impeachment trial of the president who appointed him. He retired as chief justice in December 2005 at the age of 70. In 2007, President Macapagal-Arroyo named him the country?s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN.
On the first day of the local campaign period on March 26, Junjun will be in Manila to attend his daughter's college graduation ceremonyy.
He said the campaign schedules of his father would still have to be finalized upon his arrival. It will include visits to different towns and cities in the province, and a radio program.
Their rallies have to be scheduled properly so they can cover all the towns and cities in the province.
He, however, stressed that their campaign in every district should be in proper order for better coverage. WITH ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL
