TRUE service and not just family names should be the basis in choosing those who will govern the Mandaue City Government. Thus emphasized the camp of Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing after the whole slate filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) yesterday morning.
This was Quisumbing’s response to his opponent Rep. Jonas Cortes’ (6th district) statement that their group is Mandaue’s “Power Team.”
“Having their last name is a factor in Mandaue, but it is not the only factor. I believe that in Mandaue, your best qualification has to be sincerity to serve and performance and not your last name. Mandauehanons value greater things like performance, good governance. More importantly, Mandauehanons reject corruption and drugs, and for us, given the track record of all our candidates here, we can strongly say that not anybody here has been involved in any issues,” the mayor said in a press conference after they filed their COC.
Quisumbing and Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna are seeking reelection under Hugpong Mandauehanon.
Their candidates for councilor are incumbent Councilors Elmer Cabahug, Raul Kevin Cabahug and lawyer Nilo “Olin” Seno; former councilors JP Ceniza and Alfonso “Dodong” Albaño; Paknaan Barangay Captain Malaquias Soco; former barangay captains Leo Jabas and Leo Saberon; Robby Ben Basiga and lawyer Laiza Gingoyon.
The group is under the Nationalist People’s Coalition and is allied with the regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago.
Quisumbing also denied rumors that his grandfather, Norkis founder Norberto Quisumbing, has abandoned him and is now supporting Cortes.
He said he is on good terms with the 91-year-old patriarch, and he prefers not to involve him in politics so he can live in peace.
He admitted, though, that he drew the ire of a relative when he chose not to exempt family from implementing the law.
“It’s unfortunate... There is a certain aunt of mine nga nasuko sa mga nahitabo. This is the new Mandaue, and frankly speaking, family or not, no one is above the law. If you violate the law, you must face the consequences. Di nga abi pamilya ka, makaikyas na ka sa mga penalties (You can’t escape the penalties),” he said. (FMD)