The move of the Quisumbings was reportedly in retaliation against Ruiz's earlier statement that she was being pressured by her longtime family friend and ally to run against the Ouanos.
But lawyer Gonzalo Malig-on, Ruiz's chief of staff, said they did not demand any amount from the Quisumbings in order for her to run for mayor against Mayor Thadeo Ouano's son, Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano.
"Mr. (Norberto) Quisumbing asked Rep. Ruiz kon pila ang gikinahanlan so gipresent namo nga mao ni ang figure P30 million," Malig-on said.
Ruiz and the Ouanos have already joined forces after taking their oath as members of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) with Ruiz endorsing Jonkie as the mayoralty candidate.
Department of Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Elberto Emphasis, who spoke in behalf of the Quisumbings, got irked after Ruiz told reporters that First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo scolded him for positioning the Lakas party in the province.
Emphasis admitted that the First Gentleman had called him up but their conversation did not center on former Rep. Celestino "Junnie" Martinez and Lakas party in Cebu. He, however, did not divulge what they talked about.
When the One Cebu party members took their oath as Kampi members last Wednesday, Emphasis, the Lakas spokesperson for the Visayas, announced the designation of Martinez as Lakas provincial chairman and the party's official candidate for governor.
Emphasis said he was permitted by Norberto Quisumbing Jr. to reveal other lies of Ruiz in the past days to prove her interest to run for mayor without being pressured by anybody.
Emphasis said that last January, Ruiz's husband, Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Lito Ruiz, reportedly asked Emphasis through a text message about the report of Luigi's running for congressman.
He also said that Ruiz, while in Indonesia, reportedly requested Emphasis through a text message to schedule a meeting with Quisumbing. The meeting took place last February 11 inside the yacht of a businessman in Lapu-Lapu City with Quisumbing, Emphasis and Ruiz.
Emphasis said during the meeting, Quisumbing told Ruiz that Luigi is running for congressman in the May 14 elections. Emphasis said Ruiz then replied: "Puwede man sad ko mag-mayor. Ang inyo gastuhon kang Jonas Cortes mas dako kay ang ako P30 million ra."
Malig-on admitted that Ruiz had a meeting with Quisumbing last month and that it was Quisumbing who called for it to convince Ruiz to run against Jonkie.
Malig-on also said that Ruiz has endorsed Jonkie for mayor not for monetary consideration but for political affiliations after Kampi and One Cebu party have joined forces for the coming elections.
Ruiz is Kampi's regional chairperson for the Visayas. - Gregg M. Rubio and Ramil V. Ayuman