THREE names have surfaced as likely contenders for the House seat in the sixth district in next year’s elections.

Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) yesterday confirmed that the three aspiring candidates are former Provincial Board (PB) member Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing, PB Member Victor Maambong and former Mandaue Cityi Mayor Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano.

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But who among them will take it will be up to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to decide, Pablo John told Sun.Star Cebu in a phone interview.

The local administration party One Cebu has set two conditions—that the candidate must run only under the banner of One Cebu and that he will limit himself to the
judgment of the governor.

He said it will be a hard decision for the governor but she will consult the leaders of the sixth district or the party.

The last resort is to put the choice to a vote.

Pablo John said the party intends to have a general assembly within the week or early next week.

They will choose candidates who embrace and subscribe to the principles of One Cebu party and who have the qualifications and the winnability, he said.

They will also consider if the candidate can work to the best interest of the province.

He also said that they may not consider Quisumbing’s past political affiliation because what will be given more weight is his commitment to the principles of One Cebu.

Quisumbing, then chairman of the PB Budget and Appropriations committee, was known to be critical of Garcia’s administration.

Meanwhile, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes’s adviser, Francisco Amit, said Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz’s (Cebu, 6th district) pronouncement of asking Quisumbing to join the One Cebu is to save face.

He said Ruiz’s political allies are leaving her.

He added that Ruiz’s statement is to drive a wedge between Cortes and the Quisumbings who are still in good terms.

Ruiz, who is on her last term, will be challenging Cortes for the mayoral seat.

But Amit said the information that Ruiz’s partymates are leaving her did not come from the Cortes camp.

He said it was opposition Councilor Victor Biaño, who has bolted Ruiz’s group and joined the Ouano camp, who gave the hint.

A member of the Ouano camp, who asked not to be named, said more councilors will leave Ruiz to join the Ouano camp.

All the city’s opposition members, except Biaño, are with Ruiz. Emarie “Lollipop” Ouano, the daughter of Teddy, is with Ruiz.

But Lollipop is said to be campaigning on her own and is not bringing the name of the congresswoman.