Jonkie Ouano replaces dad

CEBU, Philippines - Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, son of the late Board Member Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano, has formally substituted his father as candidate for board member for the sixth district.

Jonkie submitted his Certificate of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections-Cebu yesterday morning under One Cebu.

The late board member passed away in February to complications from cancer and diabetes.

Jonkie will be running against Mandaue Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and Consolacion Councilor Julius Alegado for the post. He ran for mayor of Mandaue City in 2007 but lost to incumbent Mayor Jonas Cortes.

 Lawyer Eliseo Labaria, acting Cebu provincial election supervisor, said that while Comelec allows substitution for deceased or disqualified candidates, certain conditions have to be met, one of which is that “the substitute candidate must have the same surname as the one who died or disqualified.”

 Comelec rules stipulate that in case of death of any candidate or disqualification after the deadline for substitution — given that the candidate is a member of a political party or a coalition — he or she may still be substituted by someone with the same surname until noontime on election day on May 9.

The youngest of three siblings, Jonkie was accompanied by his family, including his elder sister, Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon, when he filed his COC.

  Jonkie told reporters he is running because he wants to fulfill his father’s last wish.

 “Father told me last year when he was diagnosed with cancer to replace his position at PB but we weren’t expecting nga dili siya maka-recover. This wasn’t planned at all until the second of February we were told by the doctors nga dili na siya maka-recover,” he said.

The whole family approved the decision, he said, and he is elated that One Cebu standard bearer Winston Garcia has welcomed him to the party with “trust and confidence.”

As far as the current vacancy at the board is concerned, Jonkie said it may still be the Liberal Pary that can nominate for his father’s replacement, considering that his father ran under LP the last time. It was only later that he shifted to One Cebu.  “Dili ta ka-decide regarding sa office because the former Ouano ran as LP bet so the decision lies with Governor Junjun Davide,” Jonkie said.

 In an earlier interview, Davide said he sees no need to replace Ouano at the PB considering that the election is already near.  —  (FREEMAN)