JVR on Samsam’s appointment: ‘It hurts, feels like we were robbed’

CEBU, Philippines - After the appointment of Representative Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas as Liberal Party district chairman, LP members like Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said they are not keen on jumping to the rival’s wagon.

Or not just yet.

De los Reyes or JVR, though appointed LP standard bearer in his city, yesterday said he is not bent on joining the opposition’s United Nationalist Alliance or aligning himself with other political parties for now.

“As of now, dili mi mo-announce kung mangita ba og laing party. Kutob sa mahimo, among luwason ang LP. Ang nahitabo man gud karon ilaha ta giilogan og tugkaran,” De los Reyes said.

The mayor blamed the local Alayon Party headed by former congressman Eduardo Gullas for the “conflict” within the local LP in the district.

De los Reyes, along with Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante and San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy — considered original members of the LP in the district — are expected to meet with provincial LP chairman Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.

They want to clarify their actual status with the higher LP leadership.

The Alayon, armed with stronghold on Cebu’s first district, is in coalition with the LP and has expressed support for the reelection bid of Davide and LP standard bearer Mar Roxas.

As district chair, Samsam will be given the privilege to appoint candidates for mayor in the district. This means that De los Reyes’ appointment may become void as the congressman may pick Alayon-affiliated mayors to be LP’s candidates.

For the 2016 polls, De los Reyes is set to be challenged by Samsam’s grandfather, Eduardo.  Canoy will challenge the reelection bid of Samsam.

Villarante will also run for mayor in Talisay.

“Kami nasakitan sa Liberal Party kay among gihigugma pero ang nahitabo namo ila mi gitan-aw nga magsinukmagay,” De los Reyes said.

Separately, Samsam clarified that he did not ask to be designated as LP district chairman.

“I did not ask for it. Mahimo man magpaugat ko pero it will cause more trouble than good. Mao bitaw ako mopahibalo ngadto ni Governor Junjun Davide nga ayaw nalang ko himoa nga district chairman, dili nalang ko mag-district chairman,” Samsam said.

He assured that Alayon will still continue to support LP even without such designation.

For Samsam, Alayon’s support to LP is rooted on personal grounds. He said the relationship between the Gullases and Roxases could be traced back to 1963.

“It’s more on personal relationship than political. I do not want that internal conflict may arise so as to cause trouble over the candidacy of Roxas, Davide and Magpale,” Samsam said.

Villarante, for his part, believes the question of whether the first district will be declared a free zone by LP leadership is already moot.

“It’s an exercise in futility nga ato pa ning hisgutan kay open na man gyud nga si Samsam mao’y gi-recognize ni Secretary Roxas. Let us admit nga mao ni ang reality sa politika,” Villarante said.

Villarante, who has been with LP since 2010, said there’s a possibility he will be leaving LP.

“I will just wait for Governor Junjun’s decision kay makig-meet pa man siya namo. Thereafter, with the approval of my group, we will choose any of these options: to be independent and still support Governor Davide and Secretary Roxas, or transfer to any of the available parties and then make an issue against LP for leaving behind their long-time party soldiers,” Villarante said.

Villarante also said his alliance with De los Reyes under LP is headed nowhere as he is not happy how the incumbent mayor is running the affairs of the city.

In 2013, Talisay City had 113,216 registered voters while Cebu’s first district had a total of 352,483.

The first district covers the cities of Talisay, Naga and Carcar, and the municipalities of Minglanilla, San Fernando and Sibonga. (FREEMAN)