Pledges support for Quisumbing: Ouano’s son, 3 minority city councilors take oath

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Board Member Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano, son of the late Board Member Thadeo "Teddy" Ouano, and three members of the minority block in Mandaue City Council yesterday took their oath of office, assuring support for mayor-elect Luigi Quisumbing.

Ouano, along with councilors-elect who belong to One Cebu-UNA Party - Elmer Cabahug, Malcolm Sanchez and Benjamin Basiga - took their oath before RTC Branch 56 Judge Teresita Galanida yesterday morning.

Ouano won a PB seat representing the Sixth District after he substituted his father as candidate under the One Cebu-United Nationalista Alliance (UNA) Party.

The simple oath-taking ceremony was attended by his family members and close relatives. After he took oath, the three councilors followed.

In the spirit of good working relationship, Quisumbing has vowed to work closely with the minority councilors as he extended his invitation to them to his oath-taking ceremony on June 30.

After yesterday's oath-taking, Basiga and Sanchez told reporters that there is no reason for them not to attend the occasion.

"We will attend. Who are we to decline the invitation of the mayor? Our ultimate goal is to work hand in hand for the good of the Mandauehanons," Sanchez said, adding that there will be no politics if they will attend the ceremony.

Sanchez hopes that the majority block will give the minority councilors a good committee chairmanship.

Basiga, who was re-elected for the third and last term, promised to support the administration of the new mayor. He, however, clarified that his support does not mean that he will shift allegiance to the administration.

Mandaue City Council has 10 elected members. Of the 10, seven belongs to the Liberal Party of Quisumbing. They are Demetrio Cortes, Nenita Layese, Elstone Dabon, Carmelino Del Mar Jr., Kevin Cabahug, Cynthia Remedio and Nilo Seno.

Ouano and his sister, outgoing City Councilor Emmarie "Lollipop" Ouano-Dizon, who was present during the oath-taking ceremony, said that they will not dictate the three minority councilors as to what they will be doing once they will be sitting at the 14th Sangguniang Panlungsod.

"We are for unity," Ouano said.   (FREEMAN)