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The Lakas-Kampi national convention, which will officially proclaim the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates, was initially set on Nov. 12 in Cebu, but latest reports say it will no longer happen here, for reasons the party won’t officially state.
Setting the administration party’s big event in Cebu was a mistake because I think Lakas-Kampi misread the pulse of the Cebuanos. The administration thinks Cebu is Gloria Macapagal Arroyo country, after the province gave GMA a margin of one million votes in the 2004 presidential election. But Cebu is just as fed up with the administration as the rest of the country is.
Cebu’s politicians are now going where the wind blows. Political personalities, except for those who belong to One Cebu party, are rooting for the tandem of Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas.
The transfer of convention venue is indeed very embarrassing to the administration party and its presidential candidate, Gibo Teodoro. Lakas-Kampi hasn’t announced a running mate for Gibo yet. Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia politely declined the invitation for her to be the party’s vice presidential bet. The governor promised Cebuanos she would seek reelection, a smart decision. Her One Cebu party would disintegrate if she chose to run for vice president, and her chances of winning the vice presidency are quite slim.
Another headache for the administration is the possible disintegration of the Lakas-Kampi merger in the local setting. Lakas and Kampi politicians are eyeing the same positions in Cebu, and some of them have already joined the Nacionalista Party and the Liberal Party. If the administration can’t find a suitable running mate for Gibo and address the local squabbles, it’s in for a rough ride.
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Mayor Tommy Osmeña announced his party’s final slate for the council in Cebu City’s south district and it includes his wife Margot Osmeña and Ronald Cuenco.
Most of the barangay officials are happy with the slate. The inclusion of Margot means that those who are not comfortable with Mike Rama running City Hall will have Margot to turn to. The young Cuenco’s inclusion in the ticket ushers in a possible reconciliation between Tommy and Congressman Tony Cuenco.
Margot’ s inclusion in the council slate finally puts to rest persistent talk among barangay leaders that Margot is running for mayor. It’s very clear now that Bando Osmena - Pundok Kauswagan is supporting Rama for mayor and Joy Young for vice mayor.
Former senator Sonny Osmeña, who registered last week to vote in Cebu City wants to run for mayor. He invited Tommy to be his running mate, with the promise that once they get elected he would resign so Tommy can be mayor again. But Tommy isn’t buying Sonny’s script.
GSIS president Winston Garcia, I think, transferred to Cebu City just to vote and not to run for mayor. If he’s seriously considering running for mayor, he should have prepared at least one year before the May 2010 polls.
Indeed, Mike Rama may not have an opponent who can give him and the BO-PK a run for their money. Those who have been reported as potential contenders are just talking about it; their actions do not show the seriousness of their intentions.
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Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez Jr. is openly unhappy with Gwen Garcia’s One Cebu party. He’s upset with the way party leaders are welcoming his rivals, the Suezos, in the his hometown of Tuburan. His other complaint, is the mothballing of his pet project, the Trans-axial Highway.
The vice governor has sent word that he is ready to leave the administration party, either to retire from politics and focus on his business or join the opposition and run against Garcia.
It would be very difficult to defeat Gwen Garcia, who has put up several projects in the province, several of them named after her. Sanchez’s shift to the opposition may strengthen its ranks but may not be enough to defeat the incumbent governor.
What is worth mentioning is that there are local government leaders who used to be with the opposition but have joined One Cebu in recognition of Governor Garcia’s strong leadership. So, if the opposition can’t come up with a viable candidate against the governor, most of the mayors will stick with One Cebu rather than rock the boat.
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Now, the question is which presidential candidate will One Cebu support? Is Rep. Pablo Garcia’s bias for Gibo Teodoro a clear indication that the party will stick with Lakas-Kampi’s bet, even if surveys show that Gibo is not popular?
The way I look at it, if Governor Garcia wants to protect herself from the wrath of the administration – inducing the filing of charges against the governor for her controversial projects, like the allegedly overpriced Cebu International Convention Center and the Balili “timberland” purchase – then I guess the governor has no other choice but to support the Lakas-Kampi standard bearer.
