CEBU CITY – Cebu Vice Governor Hilario “Junjun” Davide III will seek reelection and will pair with former Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano.
Durano running for governor with Davide as his running mate in next year’s elections was confirmed to Manila Bulletin by a reliable source, who asked not to be named pending official announcement of the tandem.
Red Durano, former congressman of the Cebu Fifth District and president of the Durano-led Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) Party, has said his younger brother Ace is strongly considering running for governor upon the encouragement of different groups.
According to Red, the decision to run for governor would be easier to make for Ace if the person he is eyeing to become his running mate would accept the invitation.
“Ace only has one person in mind, who shares the same values and kind of leadership as him. There are still ongoing discussions, but if this person agrees to run with him, then it would be a much easier decision for Ace,” said Red in a statement released last September 15.
It turned out that Ace’s preferred running mate is Davide.
“This is still unofficial because there is no public announcement yet. Actually, he (Davide) already agreed to run again as vice governor with Ace as governor. This will be made official in October,” the source said.
The filing of certificates of candidacy for elective positions will be from October 1 to October 8.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has already announced she will seek reelection and welcomed a possible face-off with Ace.
Garcia sees Ace “a most worthy opponent.”
“If former Secretary Ace Durano would decide to run for governor then I will be most honored to face him because he is a most worthy opponent,” Garcia told reporters at sidelines of the province's services caravan in Boljoon town, southern Cebu last Thursday, September 16.