Wednesday, February 28, 2007 Cortes accuses rival of coercing drivers on Jonkie stickers
THE feud between the Ouano and Cortes camps in Mandaue City seems to be escalating following the incident wherein a Cortes follower was “mauled” by a bodyguard of Mayor Thadeo Ouano.
This time, former Mandaue City vice mayor Demetrio “Jun” Cortes Jr. claims that drivers of tricycles and trisikads in Mandaue are harassed if their vehicles don’t bear the stickers bearing Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano’s name.
In Talisay City, meanwhile, Cebu City Councilor and mayoralty aspirant Gabriel “Gabby” Leyson said he is not a stranger to Talisay amid allegations that he is not a native of the component city.
In the News 888 forum yesterday, Leyson said he cannot be branded as an outsider of Talisay because his ancestors of the mother side were inhabitants of Talisay.
Leyson also announced that he will reveal his running mate next week, adding that his slate for councilors is now complete.
Leyson is eyeing either former Talisay mayor Dehlia Tiu or former vice mayor Lani Abarquez as his running mate.
Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez was a no-show at the forum.
In Mandaue, Jun Cortes said the drivers were apprehended by traffic enforcers if their vehicles don’t have the Jonkie stickers.
“Abuso na ni,” said Cortes, adding that City Hall employees are forced to join the pulong-pulongs of Ouano’s group.
He said the attendance of the employees aims to show that many attend Jonkie’s meetings. “That should not be the case. That’s already beyond their duty.”
Ouano denied the allegations. If this were true, then they would have a lot of people to harass.
“There are more tricycles that don’t have stickers than those that have,” he said, adding that they don’t force drivers to use the stickers on their vehicles.
Ouano called on the Cortes camp to prove their allegations that the attendance of City Hall employees is required.
A text message sent to reporters yesterday also said that the Cortes camp is putting Jonkie’s meetings under surveillance.
The message also said Cortes supporters are asked to take footage and pictures of the meetings so these will be used for “future legal action.”
But City Councilor Jonas Cortes, Jonkie’s rival in the May 14 polls, denied this, saying he “won’t stoop to that level.”
He clarified that he only encourages his supporters to be vigilant so that the mauling incident in Barangay Looc last Sunday will not happen again.
Jonas said the incident is already a form of political harassment.
“Nanginabuhi ra mi’g amo,” said Councilor Glenn Bercede, Jonas’ candidate for vice mayor.
In Talisay, Leyson cited that his mother side, the Velezes, owns vast properties in the city, particularly in the hilly areas.
Last year, the councilor’s transfer of residency to Barangay Lagtang was questioned by three barangay captains who are allies of Mayor Socrates Fernandez.
Leyson, a registered voter of Barangay Cogon-Ramos, Cebu City, applied at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for his transfer of residence in Zone 3, Sitio Ilang-Ilang, Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City.
His application for transfer was to comply with the Omnibus Election Code that requires at least a six-month residency prior to the elections for all the mayoral aspirants. (AAG/GC)
