MANDAUE City Mayor Jonas Cortes will be running as an independent candidate in the May 2010 elections after he failed to get the party nomination from administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“I did it once and I will do it again,” Cortes said referring to his victory as an independent candidate in the 2007 elections.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district) was recently nominated as Lakas’ candidate for mayor in Mandaue City.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Rachel “Cutie” del Mar yesterday appealed for teamwork and loyalty among their supporters in the coming elections.

They spoke before Cebu City’s barangay councilors during a teamwork-building seminar at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Osmeña likened himself to a captain of a ship, who steers “mv Cebu City” to the right course but needs all the help he can get.

“We need teamwork and loyalty…. And we are so happy that we have leaders nga puro loyal kanamo,” Cutie said.

Her father, incumbent Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district), has endorsed her as his successor.

Tomas said that Cebu City has shown what teamwork is, which is why it is “number one” in terms of service for the senior citizens, for the women, and for the street children.

The city, he added, was also the first to have the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic Systems in managing its traffic situation.

He also mentioned the delegation of executive functions to the city councilors, which said helped in the non-stoppage of the delivery of services even when he was in the United States.

“Kinahanglan gyud ang teamwork…. Dili usa ra, mobuhat ang tanan,” the mayor said.

The mayor likewise mentioned the South Road Properties (SRP), which has started generating millions in revenue for the City Government.

He said the latest to have shown interest in the SRP is the fourth biggest Indian company.

That is why, he said, he needs everyone in helping him guide the city in the right direction.

“Ako ang kapitan orchestrating the movement. Hinaut pa unta that we will be together,” he told the barangay councilors.

Also, in a press statement yesterday, Cutie said she is resigning from her two government posts. She is a member of the Cultural Center of the Philippines board of trustees of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Her resignation, she said, will take effect when she files her certificate of candidacy for north district congresswoman.

She said her two-year stint with MTRCB taught her “the virtue of exchanging views in a positive context.”

As to the administration party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan’s lineup for the north district city councilors, Sun.Star learned it would be composed mostly of incumbent barangay captains.

Osmeña, though has declined to reveal their north district ticket after announcing last month that his wife Margot and former city councilor Ronald Cuenco will complete their set of candidate for the south district.

In Mandaue City, Cortes said he is also severing ties with long-time ally Luigi Quisumbing.

Ruiz earlier nominated Quisumbing, a former Provincial Board member, as Lakas candidate for congressman for the sixth district.

“How can I support someone who is not supporting me,” Cortes said when asked if he will support Quisumbing.

Earlier this week, Ruiz, through her chief-of-staff Gonzalo Malig-on, announced her Lakas-Kampi party nomination and authority to nominate members of her slate.

But the Cortes camp said they were told that a wrong document was sent.

The mayor was also instructed to hold on as the party will withdraw that said document and rectify it in two days time.

But yesterday, Cortes announced that he will run as an independent candidate if he fails to get the nomination from Lakas nomination.

But the mayor said he will not leave Lakas for another party.

“Mobarog ta sa atong prinsipyo (I will stand by my principles),” said Cortes, adding that being an independent candidate will give him and his supporters a freehand and no one will dictate their actions.

Although Cortes refused to further comment on ties with Quisumbing, but his brother, Ariston Cortes III, noted Quisumbing’s presence in some of Ruiz’s campaign activities.

Cortes’ entry to Lakas was blocked in by former mayor Thadeo Ouano who fielded his son Jonkie to run for mayor in the 2007 elections.

This year, Cortes entry to Lakas under the principle of “the equity of the incumbent” was blocked by Ruiz.

Cortes said the Ouano-Ruiz tactical alliance is doomed to fail. Ruiz has Ouano’s daughter Emmarie Dizon as part of her slate.

“They have different masters (presidentiable candidates) but are secretly united for survival,” said Cortes.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 28, 2009.