Ahong to run for city mayor

Lapu-Lapu City

CEBU, Philippines — For the second time, Pajo Barangay Captain Junard "Ahong" Chan is seeking the mayoralty post in Lapu-Lapu City.

Dr. Celedonio Sitoy, the brother of Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer Adelino Sitoy, will be his runnningmate.

Chan, a former city councilor, previously ran for mayor in 2010 under Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) party but lost to Mayor Paz Radaza.

He added that political party PDP-Laban has chosen him to become the standard-bearer of their group. Before he accepted the offer, he said he first consulted the constituents of the city.

Tribu Kusgano will be Chan's local party. This local party was previously led by Rolando Patalinjug, who ran as mayor in 2016 but failed, also against Radaza.

"I made my decision to run as mayor," Chan said, adding that around 90 percent of the people want changes and new leaders.

In 2016, Celedonio, a former Association of Barangay Captain in Cordova town, ran for Congress in the city under the same party but was defeated by present lone district Representative Aileen Radaza.

Celedonio reportedly is a resident of  Lapu-Lapu City for more than 40 years.

As for his final slate for his councilors, Chan has yet to finalize it, since they have several choices of personalities that are fit to join in their team.

In support of the government’s drive against illegal drugs, Chan has adopted a "shame campaign" that started in Barangay Pajo early this year.

Last week, Radaza and her slate have left PDP and will join Lakas CMD, the party they originally joined in 2007.

She will run for Congress, replacing her daughter Aileen, who decided to rest for a while from politics.

Radaza, who is in her last term as mayor, however, did not reveal as to who will succeed her.

Talks in Lapu-Lapu point to her husband, former congressman Arturo "Boy" Radaza, will run for mayor, while her nephew, City Councilor Harry Radaza, will be Arturo’s running mate.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing said he finally has completed his line-up but he will reveal it this week before the filing of certificates of candidacy.

From being an ally of PDP, Quisumbing said his group will join in the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional political party formed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who is expected to come to Mandaue on October 22.

"We will be formally sealing our alliance, her local party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, with our local slate here in Mandaue City," the incumbent mayor said, adding that this will take place in the City Cultural and Sports Complex.

Their local slate will be named as "Hugpong ng Mandaue."

Quisumbing said that he is happy for their new alliance as his group shares the same views with them. A signing of memorandum of agreement will happen on that day.

"We are very happy and excited especially since we see Hugpong ng Pagbabago the ideals and principles of the party very closely-mirrored our own outlook and perspectives on local governance," he added.

Quisumbing, who earlier announced his re-election bid as mayor, will have a match between Sixth District Representative Jonas Cortes, who will run again for mayor in the city under his local party Kaabag Alyansa sa Nagkahiusa ug Aktibong Katawhan (ANAK) sa Mandaue which is under the national PDP party.

Kaabag Anak sa Mandaue is reportedly a fusion of the Ouanos and the Corteses, who are well-known political clans in the city.

Cortes will have sixth district Cebu Provincial Board Bember Glenn Bercede as his runningmate while former city councilor and mayoralty bet Lolypop Ouano-Dizon will vie for a congressional seat.

Dizon ran for mayor but was defeated by Quisumbing in 2016. (FREEMAN)