CEBU CITY—Amid the dumping of presidential candidate Jejomar Binay by the influential Garcia family, some 30,000 Cebuanos showed up Monday night at Binay’s campaign rally, the biggest crowd so far that have gathered for him six weeks into the campaign.
And a day after gubernatorial bet Winston Garcia announced One Cebu was severing its ties with Vice President Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance, UNA stood firm in its commitment that Garcia remains the best bet to defeat reelectionist Gov. Hilario Davide III of the ruling Liberal Party.
“Despite the political misunderstanding, the people of Cebu deserve the best and UNA believes Winston Garcia is the candidate who will uplift the lives of the poor,” said UNA president and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco.
Binay, who challenged his fellow presidential candidates to sign a waiver to allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council to open their bank accounts, welcomed any examination of his lifestyle, track record and health anytime.
Binay said he will volunteer to open his bank accounts for inspection as well as those of his family.
“He also welcomes any checks on his lifestyle, performance as a public official and health,” said UNA communications director Joey Salgado.
Police Chief Inspector Jose Gesto of Cebu City Police Office Station 3, who was the ground commander Monday night, placed the crowd who came for Binay at 37,000. The organizers placed it at 30,000 to 40,000.
Binay said he remained optimistic UNA and One Cebu would reconcile their differences.
“Kasi ang pinag-uusapan natin dito ‘yung pangyayari sa field among our people,” Binay said in a press conference in Cebu on Monday.
He said Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia, Winston’s sister, remained a member of UNA.
Garcia and Binay were together during a meeting of barangay health workers in Balamban town Monday afternoon.
Former Cebu City mayor Alvin Garcia, cousin of Winston and Gwen, was also present at the UNA rally in Cebu City Monday night.
“The United Nationalist Alliance continues to stand by One Cebu standard bearer Winston Garcia. He is still the best candidate to lead Cebu,” Tiangco said.
He expressed his “unconditional support” for the Garcias.
During the campaign rally at the Plaza Independencia, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the huge turnout at the plaza was testimony to the Cebuanos’ clamor to change Davide, a party mate of President Benigno Aquino III and LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II.
Binay said he and Rama were “super best friends” and that he had the full backing of the reelectionist-mayor.
Sources from the Binay camp said Binay and Gwen discussed the “misunderstanding” brought about by the “people in the field” and that Garcia vowed to “keep the lines open.”