Thursday, March 08, 2007 Lakas-Kampi split also brewing in Mandaue
WITH their slate, Mandaue City Councilors Jonas Cortes and Glenn Bercede are scheduled to take oath as official Lakas candidates for the city tomorrow.
And as they face the candidates of the local administration, they have the support of industrialist Norberto Quisumbing, who is urging them to be like David who, with a single slingshot, was able to slay Goliath.
Cortes and Bercede have been with Lakas when they were still with the Ouano camp in 2004. This time, they will be joined by their candidates for city councilor, majority of them incumbent barangay captains.
They will take their oath before Provincial Board Member Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing, who has been designated chairman of Lakas for the sixth district of Cebu.
Wearing uniform yellow polo shirts, Cortes, Bercede and their slate were at the Norkis compound yesterday afternoon to greet Quisumbing’s wife, Britta, on her birthday.
David and Goliath
In his speech before employees, former employees and visitors, Quisumbing asked Cortes and his group to be like David, who conquered Goliath despite having limited resources.
Quisumbing also urged the people to prevent Mandaue City from becoming “another Sodom and Gomorrah.”
In an interview with reporters, Quisumbing said that by “indirect implication,” he is already supporting Cortes and Bercede, who were seated beside him.
If they win, the first thing he would ask them is to allow him to convert a controversial property in Barangay Looc into a Gawad Kalinga housing site.
“If we go in, we’re there to win. We would like the other side to have sleepless nights over that,” Quisumbing said.
Split
Cortes and Bercede used to be allied with the Ouano administration but last January they broke away and formally announced their intention to run for mayor and vice mayor.
Cortes will face off with Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, Vice Mayor Amadeo Seno Jr. and former city councilor Magno Dionson.
So far, Bercede and City Councilor Carlo Pontico Fortuna are the known candidates for vice mayor.
Jonkie and Fortuna are the candidates of the Ouano camp, who have taken oath before the Kampi party of President Arroyo. Kampi and Lakas, however, have coalesced under Team Unity.
Last year, Quisumbing announced that he is moving the company out of Mandaue City because of an unfriendly environment. (AAG)
