Rep. Garcia leaves One Cebu after party endorses Marcos

A LAWMAKER on Tuesday left provincial political party One Cebu after the group led by his sister, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia, endorsed the presidential candidacy of the late dictator’s son and namesake Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos.

“I have been officially informed that my party, One Cebu, has endorsed a candidate for President; a choice which, unfortunately, I cannot support,” Deputy Speaker and Cebu Rep. Pablo John F. Garcia said in a statement posted on his Facebook account.

Mr. Garcia said he will keep supporting presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso.

“From the start, I have been clear and consistent about my support for Mayor Isko Moreno’s candidacy for President, believing that he is, among the many choices, the most capable and best prepared to lead the country out of this many-pronged crisis that it now faces, and into the future,” the solon said.

“I respect One Cebu and its decision, just as I hope that the party I helped found, and have only the deepest affection for, would respect my choice and direction,” he added.

Mr. Garcia said he is “stepping down” from his party position as secretary general “to avoid any conflict of interest” as he continues to campaign for Mr. Domagoso.

One Cebu, which held a general assembly on Tuesday, formally announced their endorsement of Mr. Marcos.

In a statement signed by Ms. Garcia who is running for another term as governor, the party said the decision “follows weeks of extensive consultations and discussions with provincial, municipal and barangay leaders.”

Ms. Garcia said the consultations covered the 44 towns and six component cities of the province plus the independent city of Mandaue.

Cebu — excluding the independent cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue — has the biggest voting population among the Philippine’s 81 provinces.

It has more than 3.25 million registered voters for the May 9 national and local elections, based on data from the Commission on Elections. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan