Two women vie for Cebu gubernatorial post

The fight for the top elective position in the province of Cebu will be a showdown between two female candidates, both of whom have never tasted defeat, were once political allies, and have the support of influential political clans.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on 24 Oras on Tuesday, Cebu 3rd District Representative Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale will be running against each other in the May 2019 polls for the position of provincial governor.

This also marks a first for Cebu province to have two female candidates battle it out for the gubernatorial post.

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

Garcia said, "It will be a showdown between an erstwhile ally in the past, whom I was very good to."

Vice Governor Magpale comes from the political clans of the Duranos and the Almendrases and is distantly related to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Congresswoman Garcia, who was the first woman governor of the province, comes from the influential Garcia family and is an ally of President Duterte in Congress.

Garcia had maintained she is eligible to run for office in spite of being dismissed last year by the Ombudsman over the alleged anomalous purchase of the Balili property in Naga City in Cebu while she was still governor of Cebu. The penalty of the order includes perpetual disqualification from public office. Garcia had argued that the court decision is not yet final and executory so this is not a hindrance to her candidacy.

In 2012, 63-year-old Garcia was also suspended by the Office of the President for six months over corruption charges. It was during this time that her then party-mate Magpale stepped in as acting governor.

"I always consider my opponent, kung sino man 'yun, a very worthy opponent and I always run scared," she added.

On Tuesday, 76-year-old Magpale told reporters that she is determined to continue serving the province.

"Well, the knees, the joints would creak once in a while but the heart is very young, the mind is very young and you only need these two organs to serve the Cebuanos with integrity, accountability, and passion," she said. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News