Pelaez expresses interest in Lapu-Lapu mayoralty

CEBU, Philippines - Businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr. is taking his fight against Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza to another arena – politics.

This as Pelaez confirmed that he is interested to run for mayor of Lapu-Lapu in 2010. Radaza, however, will not be qualified to seek re-election as he is on his third straight term, but political pundits see him fielding his wife, Paz, for the position.

Pelaez said he wishes to end the fight with the Radazas in the elections.

The vocal critic of Mayor Radaza was at Capitol yesterday for the launching of ONE CEBU Employment and Action Center. 

Pelaez and Radaza’s conflict started when the former questioned the Lapu-Lapu City Government’s purchase of 470 computers for public schools in 2005.

He said the computers could have been bought at half the price that the city paid, which was about P24 million.

Pelaez has also complained also of harassment and accused Lapu-Lapu City officials of threatening to close down his businesses for alleged lack of permits in 2007.

The businessman also said that if the mayor’s wife would run in 2010, she faces two major controversies – the closure of the Rural Bank of Subangdaku, which she heads, and the Girl Scouts funds mess. — Johanna Natavio/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)