CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City mayoralty candidate Paz Radaza, who is also the wife of incumbent Lapu-Lapu City Mayor and candidate for Congress Arturo Radaza, will pay no heed to accusations made by detractors against her and her husband but would rather spend their time letting the public know about their platforms of government.
The Radazas are being accused of having complicities in the purchase of overpriced lampposts, purchase of overpriced computers, and others.
"I don't listen to criticism. Dili man mi ma-bother sa gi-brand namo sa kaatbang that we are corrupt. He (Mayor Radaza) does not refute the issues tungod kay wala man na niya gihimo. If he does some explaining, it means he is guilty. So there is no need to explain," Paz said during the “Know Your Candidates” forum held at The FREEMAN yesterday afternoon.
While her camp expects more mudslinging and black propaganda against her and Mayor Radaza in the coming days, Mrs. Radaza said that candidates running for certain positions should abandon their same old style and dirty tactics.
"I don't want to say anything against my opponents. They have their own reasons for running and I also have my reasons. They believe that running will be the best way that they can serve the people of Lapu-Lapu, which is the same thing why I am also running for this position," Paz said, adding that issues raised against them during campaign rallies and sorties of their opponent were born out of desperation.
Paz is running against businessman Efrain Pelaez and former ally-turned-critic opposition City Councilor Junard Chan and two others.
What’s her edge over other candidates? She said she’s the only lady candidate. "Babaye bitaw ko pero kung motrabaho ko, labaw pa sab ko sa lalaki. I am a workaholic," she said.
"Dili man siguro paggara-gara noh, modaog man siguro ko aning election," Paz said.
She said that running for the the mayoralty was her last preference as she wanted to continue the programs and projects of her husband especially in the implementation of socialized housing, the delivery of basic services and among others.
"I like to focus on education, health and social services," Paz said.
She said she is also thinking about transforming the city into another Hong Kong or Singapore. (FREEMAN NEWS)