‘Political pressure’ forces Davide to slide down Agnes to run for governor

CEBU, Philippines — It’s final. After rumors floated on social media, Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale confirmed yesterday that it will be Magpale who will run for governor in next year’s polls.

Davide will run for vice governor.

Magpale said yesterday the “big switch” was decided only two nights earlier. She said she is shocked yet humbled by her group’s decision.

She is yet to file her Certificate of Candidacy as she awaits the arrival of her Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) from her national political group, the Nacionalist People's Coalition (NPC).

Davide filed his COC yesterday.

Political Pressure

Davide said Magpale running for governor "is a fitting tribute to the provincial government” but he also admitted that his decision to slide down was caused, in part, by political pressure.

He said some of their allies in the Liberal Party have allegedly been threatened of being included in the government’s “narco list” if Magpale and Davide won’t switch positions. He did not disclose who these allies are.

"I am scared not for myself but for my allies," Davide said.

He said giving way for Magpale for governor is the preferred course of action, considering that as the leader of the Liberal Party in Cebu, he has no direct connection to Malacañang.

"The President has a soft heart for the Almendras," he said.

Magpale belongs to the Almendras clan in Cebu. She said, "He (Duterte) has acknowledged that we are relatives."

She said, however, that her blood relations with the president cannot assure the alleged threats against her political allies will stop.

Duterte's daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, has met with Magpale to form an alliance between her group, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, and Magpale’s group, BAKUD (Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya), but had said she will not dip her fingers into politics in Cebu.

Magpale also said the alliance was formed to establish support should Sara decide to run for senator.

Davide, meanwhile, said his decision to slide down “came without pain and reservation.”

“I firmly believe in her," he said.

He said Magpale’s work ethics as a public servant is topnotch. She has also been to almost all of the 1,066 barangays in the province.

"We remain steadfast in our commitment to good governance. We focus on our tasks and not positions we occupy for we believe positions are temporary. What is permanent is our commitment to serve to the best of our ability," he added.

Insult

Commenting on Davide’s revelation, Garcia said, "It's an insult to the mayors to even suggest that they succumbed to pressure. These are leaders in the own respective local government units."

Garcia said shifting allegiances is a "deafening statement" on how "poorly" Davide's administration has been.

She said most the mayors in the province have been in service since she was governor and they may have seen the difference in their performance.

"The mayors made their choice," she said.

Magpale

For six months, Magpale said she would already retire from politics after 25 years but she changed her mind after talking to her political allies. In September, she said she will run again for vice governor – that is, until the switch happened.

"This is in the interest of party alliances," she said of her decision to switch places with Davide.

She believes she has a good fighting chance against Garcia.

"I don't usually consider gender. It's just Gwen and me," she said.

She also said that even at 76, she is healthy enough to serve the province should she win as governor.

Garcia, for her part, said Magpale is a worthy opponent.

"It will be a showdown between two women. One who has served for many, many, many, many, many, many, many years and one who has served for over a decade," she said.

Fifth District Rep. Ramon Durano VI, also a relative of Magpale, said BAKUD will try its best to deliver for the tandem. 

He said the group is "dominant" in the north because its candidates have done their job well as public servants. — JMO (FREEMAN)