Gullases file COCs, restate pledge that Alayon supports Mar, Davide

CEBU, Philippines - Former Congressman Eduardo Gullas and the rest of his slate under the Alayon party formally submitted their Certificates of Candidacy before the Commission on Elections in Talisay City after hearing mass at the Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish in Barangay Poblacion yesterday morning.

Gullas, who filed his COC during his 85th birthday, was accompanied by his wife, Norma, and his grandson, incumbent first district Representative Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas and their supporters who were wearing red shirts.

Gullas said that he wants the voters of Talisay City to compare his achievements to that of his rival, incumbent Mayor Johnny De los Reyes.

“Dili ko muingon nga nakabintaha ko, pero nasayud ang atong mga kaigsuonang Talisaynon kung unsay nabuhat niya (De los Reyes) ug unsay nabuhat nako. Akong gihatagan ang atong dakbayan og maayong pundasyon samtang nangalagad ako sa tulo ka tuig,” Gullas said.

In a separate interview, Samsam reiterated his local party’s pledge to support Secretary Mar Roxas and Governor Hilario Davide III, who are Liberal Party candidates for president and governor, respectively.

“Even though NP (Nacionalista Party)-Alayon mi, it’s still 100 percent support for Secretary Mar Roxas. For governor, I’ve always said I will support Gov Junjun (Davide),” he told reporters after he filed his COC at the provincial Comelec office.

Samsam, who is seeking reelection, said the NP-Alayon coalition with the ruling LP remains for the 2016 elections.

In 2010, the Alayon party supported former senator Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party and former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia who defeated Davide in the gubernatorial contest.

In the fight for Talisay City’s elective posts, Alan Bucao for vice mayor; incumbent City Councilors Richard Francis “Choy” Aznar, Antonio “Jojo” Bacaltos Jr., Socrates “Soc” Fernandez and Doroteo “Dory” Emit; and come back city councilors Rodi Cabigas and Arturo Bas formed part of Gullas’ slate.

New additions are outgoing Provincial Board Member Julian “Teban” Daan; Tabunok Barangay Captain Manuel Cabriana; Gail Restauro, the son of former PB member Sergio Restauro; and Cansojong Barangay Councilor Ferdinand Rabaya, son of the late media practitioner Mar Rabaya, completed the group.

Daan’s wife Yolanda is seeking to replace him at the PB along with former PB member and lawyer Raul Bacaltos.

Gullas told reporters that before deciding on their slate, they consulted some of their leaders in the city’s 22 barangays to determine who they want to run.

Apart from Samsam, other aspirants have also filed their COCs yesterday at the provincial Comelec office.

They were fourth district Representative Benhur Salimbangon, who is seeking reelection; Farid Baena, who is running as independent candidate for third district PB member; PB Member Sun Shimura; and Bantayan Vice Mayor Chad Cañares, who are both eyeing PB seats representing the fourth district.

Salimbangon said he wanted to institutionalize the health care program to and expand his scholarship program to include all high school graduates whose parents do not have the means to send their children to college.

Cañares, on the other hand, said he wanted to help Salimbangon in further expanding the services and programs that benefitted the majority of the constituents in the district.

Meanwhile, Provincial Elections Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano has sought additional police security at his office for Friday, where most of candidates are scheduled to file their COCs.

Castillano said that it is expected that candidates would be bringing in supporters when they file their COCs.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Election Officer Janet Hu-Lamban said they have not encountered “nuisance” candidates so far even as the “legitimate” ones contesting the city’s 13 elective posts have not filed their COCs yet.

Aside from incumbent Mayor Paz Radaza and businessman Efrain Pelaez, Jr. who said they would file their COCs today or in the next two days, Rolando Patalinghug, nephew of former mayor Maximo Patalinghug, will also run for mayor in the 2016 elections.

Patalinghug, who resigned from his work at the Mactan Economic Zone last month, will submit his COC this Friday.

Under the Movement for Better Lapu-Lapu, Patalinghug is teaming up with the former president of Cordova town’s Association of Barangay Councils Dr. Celedonio Sitoy, younger brother of Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy.

Dr. Sitoy is set to run for congress against incumbent lone-district Representative Aileen Radaza, Paz’s daughter.

In Cebu City, Superintendent Romeo Santander of the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office said they so far have not received any report any untoward incident.

Senior Superintendent Marciano Batiancela Jr., CCPO officer-in-charge, has ordered the deployment of policemen in and constant monitoring of the security situation of the Comelec offices. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc, Michael Vencynth H. Braga, Dale G. Israel, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Christell Fatima M. Tudtud, Bryner L. Diaz/RHM