Candelario Cuizon, municipal president of Danao, Cebu

Candelario M. Cuizon was charged for robbery in that he did, on or about the 20th day of October 1903, in the Municipality of Danao (it became a city on June 7, 1961 by virtue of Republic Act 3028 and it was inaugurated on September 17, 1961), of the Province of Cebu, enter the house of Salvador Casas, with intent to gain and by means of intimidation took to himself thirty "tejidos de nipa" and one "haz de hojas de nipa."

The Court of First Instance of the Province of Cebu after hearing, sentenced Candelario Cuizon to be imprisoned for the period of six months and one day in the Provincial Jail of the Province of Cebu (now the Museum of Cebu). Cuizon was also ordered to pay the amount of 75 centavos, Mexican, which was the value of the nipa allegedly stolen.

Naturally, Candelario Cuizon who sensed that there was injustice appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court. It was found out that Cuizon indeed did enter the house of Salvador Casas and took away the quantity of the nipa as alleged by the complainant. However, it was proven that the said nipa was carried away by virtue of a search warrant issued by the Justice of the Peace of the Pueblo of Danao.

The Justice of the Peace supported the defense by his testimony. Since it was confirmed by the testimony of the Justice of the Peace that the taking was by lawful means, therefore Cuizon is therefore not guilty of the crime of robbery.

Cuizon at that time of the service of the search warrant issued by the Justice of the Peace was President of the Pueblo (Municipality) of Danao.

The Supreme Court on February 4, 1905 through Justice Johnson said that an officer who takes possession of personal property by means of a search warrant lawfully issued and property served cannot be held liable for the crime of robbery of the property. The judgment convicting President Candelario M. Cuizon was reversed and found him not guilty.

Candelario M. Cuizon was the capitan of Danao when the American troops arrived. They were led by General Lawton in 1900. The American troops arrived in Cebu on January 1899 they were defied by General Arcadio Molero Maxilom, the first cebuano governor of Cebu.

In Danao, Candelario M. Cuizon known as Tan Dayong took arms and fought the American troops who came to Danao. He fled to the mountains of Danao. However, his big residence, located to what is now known as C.M. Enriquez Street and B.D. Durano Street was burned by the Americans.

Another leader of Danao, Victoriano Buot was also arrested and forced to submit to American allegiance, who was imprisoned at the Fort San Pedro in the Municipality of Cebu (now Cebu City). Days after his released, he was appointed on July 10, 1901 as the first municipal president of the Municipality of Danao. The Americans changed the title of the municipal chief executives from Capitan (as what the Spaniards called them) to municipal presidents.

Victoriano Buot was then succeeded by Candelario M. Cuizon. When the Americans organized the Municipality of Danao upon installing Buot as president, the following composed the new formed government: Agustin B. Tito who was Juez de Paz (Justice of the Peace during the Spanish Regime) appointed as Vice President with Felix G. Batucan as municipal treasurer. Tomas G. Lao was appointed as chief of police.

Forming the municipal council were councilors Alejandro B. Derecho, Severo B. Duterte, Catalino C. Buot, Roman B. Gonzales (the founder of Danao, Capitan del Rosario changed his family name to Gonzales when the natives where given Christian surnames) and Manuel Roble.

Candelario M. Cuizon became one of the owners of Danao Coal Mining Syndicate Ltd., in a later case that reached the Supreme Court on the issue of payment of the establishment he was represented by a certain H.B. Walker.

The first city mayor of Danao was Beatriz D. Durano while the vice mayor was Rosita D. Almendras and the Members of the Municipal Board were: Tomas E. Amores, Jesus D. Durano, Eleuterio Cola, Mariano Banzon, Leonardo R. Enriquez, Jose Pantoja, Olimpio Alerta, Remedios P. Arpon and Juntino M. Palma.