Gwen turns down calls to run for senator

CEBU, Philippines — A group is urging Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to run for senator in the 2022 national and local elections but the governor was quick to shoot down such calls saying she will instead seek re-election.

Edward Ligas, lead convenor of the “Run Gwen Run” movement, said there is a need for a “true-blooded Cebuano” in the Senate and Garcia, he said, is the most qualified “material” for that post.

“Among nakita ang panginahanglan for a true-blooded Cebuano senator. No other material (for that) except for Gwen,” he said.

The other convenors of the movement are Maria Pino, barangay councilor of Ermita and president of Cebu City United Vendors Association; Erwin Goc-ong, chairman of Cebu Market Vendors Multipurpose Cooperative; Neil Papas, municipal administrator San Fernando town; and Marissa Rubin, event organizer.

At the launch of the movement yesterday, people describing themselves as “members” of urban poor, farmer, fisherfolk, senior citizen and vendor groups carried placards bearing the words “Gwen: Senator for 2022; Cebu’s Pride” and “Gwen for 2022: Pro-Poor; Cebu’s Pride.”

No, Thanks

But no less than Garcia herself said she will not be gunning for a national post come next elections.

“I have no intentions whatsoever of seeking national office. Read my lips, I'm running for governor again because I feel I am more needed here in the Province of Cebu at this time and in the next years that will follow as we try to recover from this pandemic,” she said.

Garcia’s brother, Cebu third district Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, said he finds the group’s intention suspicious.

“So I'm sorry I don’t know this group, but I am deeply suspicious on groups like this nga kalit lang og butho ba nga hapit na ang election,” the younger Garcia said.

PJ believes that those who want his sister to run for Senate are actually against the governor.

“I heard nga there are some former media personalities involved nga didto sa opposite camp in the last election so I am very suspicious. Mura ba na’g kanang Aesop's fable nga duna ba'y langgam nga naa siya’y mansanitas sa iyang baba unya ang milo (fox/civet cat) gusto man niyang makuha ang mansanitas so giunsa man niya? Giingnan niya, nindot kaayo ka mokanta, palihug kanta. So pagkanta sa langgam, nahug ang mansanitas, gikaon, gitukob sa milo,” PJ said.

The congressman theorized that the real motive behind such calls is really to remove Gwen from the Capitol.

“Mao nang I'm suspicious of calls like this groups from people nga kalit lang nibutho and I can only suspect nga gikan lang sa kontra-partido kay nahibaw sila nga kon modagan usab si Governor as governor, wa gyu'y bawot ang pikas Partido,” he said.

Gwen’s credentials

Ligas said it would be fitting to have a Cebuano senator since Cebu is among the vote-rich provinces and is also the “richest” province in terms of assets.

“With her vast experience in local government, Gwen knows the problem of every LGU. Gwen has made a political history in the province as the first woman governor and she will be making another history to be the first woman senator from Cebu,” said Ligas who is the president of Cebu Concerned Consumers Association.

Ligas, a former urban poor commissioner, added that Garcia represents the poor during this pandemic and has great chance of winning in the senatorial race.

To further spread awareness of their movement, Ligas said they will launch an online petition and distribute stickers urging Garcia to run.

Dino’s comments

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, when sought for comment, said that while Garcia is “highly qualified,” Cebu also needs her in these “very trying times” of pandemic.

“But let me be selfish now because of the difficult times. (We are) in a very trying time. We still need Governor Garcia to be still the governor of Cebu. So, pasensiya lang. Let me, as I said, let me be selfish first,” Dino said.

Dino, however, pledged his support for Garcia should the latter decide to run for senator.

“But, of course, kung modagan gyud siya, ganahan siya modagan as senator, definitely, ako, my team and entire family will support her all the way,” he said, adding “it’s also nice to have a senator who will represent the Visayas.”

Dino was among those who urged Senator Bong Go to run for senator in 2019 and launched the “Cebu is Go” movement back then in the vote-rich province. — Le Phyllis F. Antojado, JMD (FREEMAN)