Quisumbing, Fortuna team up for Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu sixth district Representative Luigi Quisumbing yesterday filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor in Mandaue City ending speculations that he would face head-to-head with his partymate in the Liberal Party, incumbent Mayor Jonas Cortes. 

Surrounded by at least 7,000 supporters, Quisumbing and his runningmate, former vice mayor Carlo Fortuna, together with the complete slate of the Liberal Party for the City Council, went to the Commission on Elections yesterday morning to file their COC.  

Quisumbing, who is still eligible for reelection in Congress, said his decision was “hard” considering that he would likely get reelected if he decided to seek reelection.

However, Quisumbing said he was thinking of the interest of the City of Mandaue since Cortes is already on his last term. He said it was “city above self” that came to his mind when Cortes offered him to be LP’s standard bearer in the city.

  “It’s city above self. My personal interest and personal position compared nothing to the future of Mandaue City and that is why we humbly accepted the challenge of Mayor Jonas,” he said.

The whole team, except for one candidate for councilor, was wearing the political color of the rival One Cebu Party. Quisumbing, however, was quick to explain that apart from yellow, blue is also the traditional color of the Liberal Party.

Asked about his opponent, Councilor Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano-Dizon, who will be running under the banner of One Cebu Party, Quisumbing said he does not want the coming elections to be a personality contest.

“I don’t want to make this an election of personalities. This election should be about issues, about making Mandaue City great,” he said.

The Quisumbing-Fortuna tandem has three barangay captains in its slate— Cynthia Remedio of Cabancalan, Jun Delmar of Ibabao-Estancia, and Leo Jabas of Canduman. It also has incumbent Councilors Nene Layese, Jun Cortes, and Tony Dabon.

Completing the lineup are Kevin Cabahug, Lawyer Olin Seno, Marvin Soco, and Alfonso Albaño.

Cortes is running for congress while Vice Mayor Glen Bercede is gunning for the Provincial Board.

Cortes said he saw in Quisumbing the potentials to continue his programs in Mandaue City. — (FREEMAN)