CEBU, Philippines - One Cebu Party President and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has sought to dispell rumors of shifting alliances by the party.
In front of the One Cebu party members during a meeting Wednesday night, she reiterated their solid support for Lakas-Kampi-CMD Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro.
"One Cebu stands firm on its support for Gilberto 'Gibo' Teodoro for President. I assure you that One Cebu keeps its word. If in the end, our candidate loses, then that I can accept more than losing our own word of honor," she said.
Talks started circulating last week that Garcia and her party will likely shift their support to Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar.
"We already made our choice. It was decided not by some flimsy exercise but through thorough deliberation. If you don't agree with our decision, it is best that we part ways. We don't play games here and ride two horses," Garcia addressed her members.
Garcia also said she didn't know about a secret meeting that Villar called with the One Cebu congressional candidates. Villar was in Cebu on Wednesday to formalize the alliance between Kusug (Opposition Party) and Nacionalista Party.
Villar meets congressmen
Incidentally, 5 of the 6 congressmen under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD slate were found in an another function room in the same hotel. They were 1st district Cong. Eddie Gullas, 2nd district Cong. Pabling Garcia, 3rd district Pablo John Garcia, 4th district Cong. Benhur Salimbangon and 6th district Cong. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz. Also in the meeting was GSIS president Winston Garcia and 6th district congressionable Luigi Quisumbing.
Villar initially said he met with the congressmen and described the meeting as having pleasant results. However, none of the congressmen would confirm their attendance.
Pabling Garcia said he was in the hotel for a personal meeting. Pablo John Garcia claimed he was looking into the last minute preparations of their One Cebu meeting that night. Salimbangon said he just accompanied their doctors for the Operation Smile, as the doctors were checked in the hotel.
Kusug spokesperson Raymond Garcia, nephew of Gwen, also denied having known about the meeting.
"If ever there would be an arrangement between One Cebu and Nacionalista Party, we're out of that already," he said.
Teodoro, however, is expected to join the One Cebu Party Campaign Launch in Argao on Friday.