After union of three clans: Team Mandaue eyes sweep in polls

CEBU, Philippines — With the unification of the Cortes, Ouano, and Soon clans in the city, Team Mandaue headed by mayoralty candidate Jonas Cortes said they are eyeing a 17-0 sweep in their favor in the May elections.

"Nagkahiusa naman ang tulo ka mga political clans dinhi sa Mandaue. So mas nilig-on ang among grupo," said Cortes, who is currently Cebu Sixth District representative.

Team Mandaue is fielding candidates for governor, vice governor, Sixth District representative, board members, and Mandaue City mayor, vice mayor, and city councilors.

Cortes is the grandson of former Mandaue City mayor Demetrio Cortes.

Emmarie Ouano Dizon, who is now running as Sixth District representative, is the granddaughter of former city mayor Alfredo "Pedong" Ouano and the daughter of former city mayor Thadeo "Teddy" Ouano.

Nerissa Soon Ruiz is a former Provincial Board member and former congresswoman in the Sixth District. In the past, Ruiz ran for mayor against Teddy but lost.

Jonas ran for mayor against Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano (son of Teddy and grandson of Pedong). Jonas won over Jonkie.

Jonkie, an incumbent Provincial Board member, is running again for the same position under Jonas’ slate.

“Nagkahiusa mi para mas mapalig-on ug madayon nato ang serbisyo namo nga inyo nang natagamtaman,” said Emmarie Ouano Dizon in her speech as she presented her platform of government which includes infrastructure projects like flyovers to help ease traffic, dams to help solve flooding, education, and healthcare among others.

Team Mandaue had their opening salvo the other night with over 20,000 supporters in attendance, including Pinky Quisumbing and Neil Quisumbing Alvarez.

Pinky is the aunt of re-electionist Mayor Luigi Quisumbing while Neil is the latter's cousin.

Representative Cortes said that he is glad that some of the relatives of his opponent are on his side, including Luigi's grandfather, businessman Norberto Quisumbing.

In fact, Representative Cortes said that the Quisumbing patriarch gave Team Mandaue 50 motorcycles just this month.

Also with them was 1Pacman Partylist first nominee Mike Romero who thanked the Mandauehanons for making them the number one partylist in the 2016 elections.

Romero also said that 1Pacman gave P5 million last year and an additional P10 million this year to help the displaced job order employees of the Mandaue City government.

Also in attendance were former senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, who also wooed the Mandauehanon votes.

Several celebrities were also present to promote 1Pacman Partylist including actress Diana Zubiri and several PBA players.

Meanwhile, re-electionist Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, who is running in tandem with Quisumbing, said that they will only have pulong-pulongs as their opening salvo was already done in advance last March 21 during the Hugpong ng Pagbabago rally which was attended by Presidential daughter Sara Duterte and several senatoriables. —/BRP (FREEMAN)