Vice Governor Junjun Davide, ready for Congress?

I have always believed that the credentials, temperament and integrity of Vice Governor Hilario P. Davide III is best fit for the House of Representatives. The thousands of voters from ADABOSS, the acronym I coined for Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy Boljoon, Oslob, Santander and Samboan, are looking forward to be represented by a highly qualified lawyer who knows lawmaking the way it should be done.

The vice governor has superior academic credentials. His parents, retired Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr and mom, Virginia J. Perez made sure that their eldest got the best quality of education. He finished his elementary education at the Sacred Heart School for Boys in 1977. He completed his High School in UP Cebu City.  He earned his Bachelor's of Arts in Political Science Degree from UP, Diliman in 1981, and his Bachelors' of Law Degree from the University of San Carlos. He started his political career as a councilor of Cebu City's north district from 2004 to 2010. Then he was elected governor of the Province of Cebu and held that post from June 30, 2013 to June 30, 2019.He slid down as vice governor and assumed that office from June 30, 2019 up to the present.

In the year 2010, Junjun Davide lost to Governor Gwen Garcia who garnered 639,587 to Davide's 543,246 votes.  When Davide III ran for governor in 2013, he won over now Congressman Pablo John F Garcia of the third district. Davide was credited with 654,054 votes over Garcia's 490,148.  Pablo John is the younger brother of Governor Gwen Garcia. In 2016, Winston, former GSIS Chairman, another brother of the lady governor contested the same post for governor. Davide defeated Winston too with 608,493 over Garcia's 584,932. In 2019, Vice Governor Davide, defeated Daphne Salimbangun with his 781,312 votes to Daphne's 618,828. His governor Agnes Magpale lost to Governor Gwen.

In 2022, Davide III again defeated Garcia's running mate, Ma Theresa Heyrosa who got 716,480 votes while Davide was credited with 788,081. Davide's running mate, Ace Durano suffered a whopping defeat to Governor Gwen who got 1,478,436 votes over Durano's 341,455. Based on all these, it can be safely concluded, without fear of any contradiction that Junjun Davide is a bankable candidate who can give his opponents a run for their money, except only the dragon lady from Dumanjug and Barili, Governor Gwen. If Davide could beat both Pablo John and Winston Garcia, and Daphne Salimbangon, there is no reason why he cannot win in his own turf, the second district. And that is no matter who is the opponent, not even multi-millionaires and big-time contractors and businessmen.

The strength of Junjun Davide lies in the clean and unblemished name of Davide, his unimpeachable integrity, his unquestioned honesty and his humility. The good name of Davide established by his father cannot be matched by any other politician. The only lawyer from the south who was a delegate to the 1973 Constitutional Convention and a commissioner of the 1987 Constitutional Commission, a member of the Batasang Pambansa, a Comelec chair, an associate Justice and later, Chief Justice of the highest court of the land, and also ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and permanent representative to the United Nations. Two Davides are Magsaysay awardees, and no other family in the entire country has achieved that feat. Yes, it is the father but this eldest son has imbibed the values, attitude and principles of his father.

If and when vice governor Junjun finally decides to run in the second or even in the seventh district, I will drop anything and everything in Manila. I shall go home to campaign very hard for him. I will visit all the barangays of Argao and Dalaguete, from Anahaw to Talaga and up to the mountains of Mantalongon. I shall do my best so that the best man wins. I know that there are hundreds and even thousands of other similarly inspired supporters who shall do the same. Junjun is being loved by the old folks and idolized by the young.

It will not be money that will send Davide III to Congress. It is the people who shall carry Junjun on their shoulders and in their hearts. More so, if he teams up with Willy Caminero for Governor. The year 2025 belongs to Davide III. It is written and it shall be.