Mayoralty bet slams Radaza

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City opposition Councilor Junard Ahong Chan yesterday accused Mayor Arturo Radaza of diverting public discussion away from alleged massive corruption allegedly committed during his nine-year term at city hall.

Chan, Radaza’s former ally-turned- detractor is eyeing the mayoralty post in the city as well as four others.

Chan said Radaza has gone to the extent of compromising the image of prime tourist spots of the province by diverting public attention away from the controversies that have rocked by his administration.

“Migawas kita sa administrasyon tungod kay dili na nato makaya ang corruption,” Chan said during the “Know Your Candidates” forum held at the conference room of The FREEMAN.

How does he rate Radaza? From a scale of 1 to 10, ten being the highest, Chan gives Radaza a grade of one.

“From one to 10, I will give him one. Dili lang siguro taga-Lapu-Lapu, dili lang siguro ang tibuok Pilipinas kun dili tibuok kalibutan ang nakahibalo sa corruption nga nahitabo sa Lapu-Lapu,” Chan said, claiming that the man is known to allegedly ask for something from investors in exchange for permits.

While Chan is finding fault with Mayor Radaza, Efrain Pelaez, another mayoralty candidate in the city, on the other hand, doubts Chan’s claim that he is an opposition.

Pelaez said Chan has never filed a single case against Mayor Radaza and his wife, Paz, particularly on the lamppost issue, ghost employees, among others. Paz Radaza is also running for mayor.

Pelaez filed a complaint in the Office of the Ombudsman in December 2007 accusing the Radaza administration of maintaining 16 ghost employees in barangay Basak, which he accused Chan of being the person behind the ghost employees issue.

The city reportedly spent P48,000 a month for the honorarium of the employees at P3,000 each, but City Councilor Junard “Ahong” Chan released only P16,000.

Chan and Radaza were reportedly still allies at that time and Chan was in charge of the city’s barangay affairs.

But Chan answered back saying he will withdraw and back out from the mayoralty race if Pelaez can prove his accusations.

“Pwede ko moundang sa pagdagan pagka-mayor, if and when, makapakita siya nako og proof nga nalambigit ko anang ghost employees,” Chan said. 

How does Chan describe his adversaries? Chan describes Radaza as “bakakon” while Pelaez as “kulang sa pansin.”

If elected mayor in the city, he will clean up the city of corruption, he said.

Does he have a chance of winning in this upcoming election?

“Wala ta’y kaso. Wala ta’y banko nga nabangkarota. Dili ko tax-evader ug labaw sa tanan, limpyo akong pagserbisyo,” Chan said.   (FREEMAN NEWS)