Teddy Ouano leaves One Cebu for Liberal Party

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Thadeo Ouano has decided to join the Liberal Party (LP).

This was announced by LP provincial chairman Hilario “Junjun” Davide during the 46th birthday bash of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes at the Club Amnezia at the North Reclamation area in Mandaue City last Friday evening, and confirmed by Ouano himself.

One Cebu secretary general and gubernatorial bet, Cebu third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia, said Ouano will be a big loss to the group.

“He will certainly be a big loss to One Cebu. He was a One Cebu stalwart from the start. But I guess he needed to unite with his family politically,” Congressman Garcia said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

In his announcement, Davide said that Ouano already joined the party although there is no definite date yet of his oathtaking . Davide assured to arrange it as soon as possible.

Ouano confirmed Davide’s announcement in a separate interview. He said that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, the head of the One Cebu Party where he is a member, does not know yet of his transfer to the LP. Ouano said he will be meeting with the governor soon to formally inform her of the transfer.

Ouano said the reason he finally decided to join LP is the wish of his father, former mayor Alfredo Ouano, to unite his family. His daughter, Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano, already joined the LP slate of Cortes early this year.

“To keep the unity of the family, I have to join the party of my daughter since it is also my father’s wish,”Ouano said .

He credits Mayor Cortes for uniting all the political clans in Mandaue.

Cortes, in his birthday speech, said that it was the best birthday for him as he was able to unite all the big politicians in the city.

“I’m filled with mixed emotions, kay nagka-unite na dyud ang mga dagkong politico sa dakbayan, gihimo ni nako aron mouswag ang dakbayan,” Cortes said in his speech. (At last we are finally united for the development of Mandaue.)

Cortes’ birthday was attended by politicians mostly coming from the LP - Davide, Cebu South District Representative Tomas Osmeña, Sixth District Representative Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, Provincial Board Member Arleigh Sitoy and Consolacion Mayor Theresa Alegado.

Former sixth district congresswoman Nerissa Soon Ruiz and former city vice mayor Carlo Fortuna were also there. Ruiz and Fortuna, who were known critics of the Cortes administration, are now working as consultants of Cortes for public health and legislative affairs, respectively .

Meanwhile, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy who also in the birthday party said that Ouano’s transfer to LP will cripple One Cebu Party in the sixth district because Quisumbing and Ouano are now joining the LP slate. When asked if he will also be joining the LP since he was the only politician in the party who is a member of One Cebu, Sitoy said that he will just let his son, PB Member Arleigh Sitoy, remain with the LP as it is “not yet the right time” for him to make any moves or decisions.

On this, Congressman Garcia said: “We’ve been crippled in Mandaue for a long time, since all the officials there are Liberal Party. So we will just have to learn to walk with crutches there. Thankfully, a lot of leaders on the ground are providing us with crutches. We’ll work from there.” — /JPM (FREEMAN)