Capitol keeps off politics in Mandaue City, Tudela town

Capitol will not to meddle into the politics of Mandaue City and Tudela town.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes is facing a battle against the city council headed by the Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna while Tudela town currently has three “mayors” in Rogelio Bacquerfo, Demetrio Granada and Clint Maratas.

In the last 2007 elections, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia supported the mayoralty bid of former Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano’s son, Jonkie, against Cortes while the governor supported the bid of Granada against Bacquerfo, who is an ally of the Garcia’s foes, the Martinezes.

In Mandaue City, the city council is controlled by the opposition. There have been many disagreements between the mayor and the council that Fortuna presides.

But Fortuna assured the public that there is no personal conflict between him and Cortes.

In the case of Tudela town, the residents are confused because they have three mayors.

Last July the Sandiganbayan suspended Bacquerfo for 90 days in relation to a 2004 graft case for allegedly transferring Tudela’s waterworks system to barangay Puertobello without the municipal council’s approval.

Vice Mayor Clint Maratas was appointed acting mayor by Demetrio Granada, who earlier won an election protest against Bacquerfo and was declared by the Danao Regional Trial Court as the winner of Tudela’s mayoralty race.

But Bacquerfo said that Granada does not have a final court judgment yet and he will fight for his post all the way to the Supreme Court if needed.

In yesterday’s press conference, Capitol consultant on information Rory Jon Sepulveda said that Capitol will be neutral and will only intervene if the delivery of basic services will be affected.

“So far wala pa man hinuon mi makadawat og mga yangongo sa mga tawo nga gipasagdan ang ilang basic services,” Sepulveda said. 

     Granada was at the Capitol Social Hall to attend a forum and Garcia addressed him as “mayor”.  But she later said it meant nothing.

“Let me tell you that once a mayor, always a mayor,” Garcia told reporters.  — Garry B. Lao/BRP