THE patriarch speaks, and what a big blow it is for the grandson who seemed to have engaged in a kind of rampage, hacking at every chance he could get against his political rivals throughout his term.
Norberto Quisumbing Jr., industrialist and grandfather of Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, breaks speculations about a strained relationship with his grandson with a strong statement.
Luigi is running for re-election against Rep. Jonas Cortes in Mandaue City.
“I now put my vote and now support Jonas Cortes as mayor of Mandaue City and the rest of Team Mandaue because I believe Luigi no longer deserves to be Mayor as he has been corrupted by greed and influence. Too much power went to his head and he is now managing Mandaue City wrongly in every way,” Quisumbing said.
The grandson, he said, had “chosen to delve into dirty politics, character assassination and negative campaigning.”
The last straw for Quisumbing, reports said, was when Luigi accused his aunt Pinky as “Ecstasy Queen” and cousin Kyle and Cortes as part of a drug matrix.
“This character assassination against Pinky, Kyle and Jonas is totally unfair and untrue. I am surprised why Luigi allowed such statement like this, saying that these three are involved in drugs when obviously they are not. None in my family are involved in drugs at all. So, this time, I have to come out and tell everybody whom I prefer to run for mayor of Mandaue City. Jonas Cortes should be returned back to mayorship because he is fair and efficient in his work,” said Quisumbing.
Luigi was quick to respond, saying no one is above the law. He is for the interest of the Mandauehanons and, although it hurt him to order the closure of a family member’s business due to alleged drug “infestation,” he had to uphold what he thought was right.
“I respect my Lolo and have always been grateful for the support that he has given to me and to our family. However, I am now the father of the City with a duty to protect and preserve it,” Luigi said, in a statement sent to SunStar Cebu.
Cortes, on the other hand, welcomed Quisumbing’s statement. “We know this decision has not been an easy one for the patriarch of the Quisumbing family. However, we also believe that this decision was also based on the reality which also affected the whole City of Mandaue under this current administration,” he said. Luigi’s actions, he added, are divisive, and are now taking their toll.
The words are out, careful rhetoric in the heat of the campaign season, but it’s the whole gesture of the patriarch that must have sent Luigi’s party scratching its head. The charismatic grandfather still has a big sector of Mandaue City under his influence. Will this cause a big dent in Luigi’s campaign?