Jonkie not running in brgy polls – Lollipop

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano–Dizon yesterday denied speculations that the Ouano family is now preparing to take back control of the city in the 2016 elections.

Ouano-Dizon, who got the highest votes among the councilors last May, clarified this after the oathtaking ceremony yesterday morning at the Mandaue City Hall.

Ouano-Dizon said that talks about the Ouano family supposedly starting to position themselves for the 2016 elections are not true.

For one, her younger brother Jonkie has no intention of running as barangay captain or councilor of barangay Opao this October. Jonkie is busy supervising their family business and has no time for any political activities, she said.

She also denied reports that she will be running for president of the Philippine Councilors’ League this July because she fully supports the leadership of current PCL President Carmen “Ivy” Durano who earlier announced that she will seek reelection.

Ouano-Dizon said that the 2016 elections is still three years away so it is best to work for now. She has the option to run for a third term of office as a city councilor, run for vice mayor or mayor. But right now, she said she aims for a continued unity in Mandaue.

“That is still three years away, so trabaho sa ta.”

She also denied reports that they junked their fellow candidates in the LP last May elections and that she and her father, Board Member Thadeo Ouano, only campaigned for themselves.

She clarified that people may have thought this of them because their  campaign materials bore only her pictures and that of her father. She explained this was to lessen their expenses.

Since all of them won, she hopes that the issues will die down  as she does not want to create any trouble.

“It’s just that I believe in the power of prayers and that the good will prevail, busa siguro nag no.1 ta kay kon nagbuhat pa ta ug dautan di sad siguro ta mag no.1,” Ouano-Dizon added.

She said that since her job as a councilor is legislation, what she can do for now is to support all the projects of Mayor Jonas Cortes. She also said that she is glad that her colleagues supported her water sanitation ordinance.  JPM (FREEMAN)