Luigi-Cortes swap ‘a sacrifice’, to help ensure people’s trust

CEBU, Philippines – The continuity of the supposed trust and confidence in governance is the battlecry of the team of Sixth District Representative Gabriel Luis Quisumbing and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes in swapping positions in the 2016 elections.

Former Mandaue City vice mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, the runningmate of mayoralty candidate, Quisumbing, said it is sacrificial for the latter to run for the position when he still has one more term in Congress “which he can easily win.”

“Continuity. Mao gyud na ang tema nga gi-emphasize ni Mayor Jonas ug Congressman Luigi nga Mandaue above self,” said Fortuna during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza last Tuesday.

He said this is also the first time the mayor and the congressman are working together under the same party.

Quisumbing is said to have brought in around P1 billion worth of infrastructure projects, particularly road concreting works in the district while under the Cortes administration, Mandaue City’s income reportedly reached around P3 billion.

“That confidence is seen on how the people and the businessmen respond,” Fortuna said.

Fortuna said on the question of who would succeed Cortes, who is on his last term, the choice had to be made by Quisumbing. Eventually, the solon decided to run for mayor and Cortes for congressman to “ensure continuity.”

“We see strong chances of winning kay kuyog ang mayor ug congressman for the first time,” Fortuna said.

Fortuna said Cortes also has track record being a mayor for the past eight years.

While the camp of aspiring mayoralty candidate Lolypop Ouano-Dizon raised the issue of Quisumbing being a non-Mandauehanon, Fortuna said their group would not throw issues against their opponents.

“Ang amo lang gyud nga continuity of confidence of the businessmen — Mandaue above self, unahon ang Mandaue,” Fortuna said. (FREEMAN)