SURROUNDED by family and friends, the Liberal Party tandem of former Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez filed their candidacies at the provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) office at the Capitol late yesterday morning.

The two completed their application in a little over 20 minutes and told local media that their complete lineup including municipal candidates will be known on Dec. 1.

Davide said he will spend most of his time introducing himself in campaign sorties throughout the province.

Sanchez, for his part, said he is not concerned with the absence of a running mate for Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. “Our political opponent is strong.

They have a lot of people to pick from, maybe they're having a hard time searching,” he said in Cebuano.

Speculations abound that Garcia's running mate will be former Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano.

However Thadeo's father, Alfredo Ouano, said the family is not keen on his son to run for vice-governor due to the vast coverage of the campaign.

Despite this, Sanchez said he and Davide are ready for whoever Garcia will run with.

The son of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., Davide said he and Sanchez will campaign in line with the LP's platform of good governance and transparency.

“We want to have a provincial government really trusted by the people,” Davide said.

He said they will remind the Cebuano electorate anew about the graft cases hounding Governor Garcia's tenure, including the recent Balili beach property purchase in Naga, Cebu.

The Capitol purchase of the 25-hectare beach property at P98.9 million came under fire from environmental groups and critics alike.

A government survey showed that most portions of the property were submerged in water and classified as public domain.

Davide also raised anew the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) for the 12th ASEAN summit in 2007.

A court recently ordered the Capitol to pay over P200 million in additional works to the contractor.

The Ombudsman Visayas is investigating the two cases.

Davide said he and Sanchez will still meet together to thresh out the issues and programs they wish to deliver to the Cebuano electorate.

Davide, who transferred his registration to Argao town, said he has his campaign work cut out for him in the months prior to the formal campaign period in March next year.

The two also said unlike the One Cebu party of Governor Garcia, they are solidly behind the tandem of Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Mar Roxas.Correspondents Jhunnex Napallacan and Chris Ligan