Sunday, April 27, 2008
Ouanos to shun politics: Pedong
By Oscar C. Pineda
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AFTER seeing a grandson lose in the last elections and his son possibly not being able to seek government post anymore, former Mandaue City mayor Alfredo “Pedong” Ouano doesn’t think members of his family would still want to seek public office.
“They would rather concentrate their efforts managing their business,” said Pedong, referring to his son, former mayor Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano, and grandson Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano.
Jonkie, Thadeo’s son, ran for mayor in the May 2007 elections but lost to incumbent Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.
Dismissed
Teddy, on the other hand, has reportedly lost interest in politics, especially after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered him perpetually dismissed from government service and criminally charged over the overpriced Asean lampposts controversy.
“No comment,” was Teddy’s reaction to his father’s statements, as relayed by publicist Jonji Gonzales.
“We work hard for the betterment of the city and yet, we end up getting sued,” Pedong told Sun.Star Cebu, referring to the fate of his son and his pending case at the Sandiganbayan.
But the patriarch of the Ouano political clan revealed that despite this sentiment among his family members, Jonkie is still getting offers to run again. He said that a certain Cosido from Cortes’ camp approached him and broached the idea of having Jonkie as Cortes’ running mate in the next elections.
Stay away
Pedong said Jonkie is reportedly being eyed as Cortes’ running mate in the 2010 elections.
He admitted that while the idea of fusing the Ouano and Cortes clans would benefit Mandaue City, his children are no longer interested.
Jonkie, specifically, is not even interested to run for councilor, Pedong said.
Gonzales confirmed this, saying Jonkie decided to stay away from politics after losing to Jonas.
Mayor Cortes, however, said he doesn’t know what Pedong is talking about. He merely said, however, that anything is possible but refused to comment further.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 27, 2008 issue)
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