2 opposition councilors join Cortes, Cortes says it's not remote for Cortes and Ouano families to unite

CEBU, Philippines - To show their support to the administration of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, two city councilors yesterday finally joined the Liberal Party where the mayor is a member.

 City Councilors Emmarie "Lolypop"Ouano-Dizon and Editha Cabahug told reporters that they and their respective families will fully support the administration of Cortes. The two ran under the slate of defeated mayoral candidate Nerissa Soon-Ruiz last 2010.

 Ouano-Dizon and Cabahug will complete the slate of Cortes in the upcoming 2013 elections. The mayor said that he and Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede will work hard for a 12-0 in 2013 and all they have to do now is just to perform well.

With the entry of Ouano-Dizon and Cabahug in his administration, Cortes sees this will not be the last because there are still big political families who will be joining him later.

"The entry of both councilor Lolypop Ouano-Dizon and councilor Editha Cabahug will definitely strengthen our group sa LP because I firmly believe that in unity there is strength ug nalipay lang ko ug dako kay for so long dugay na nakong gitinguha nga mahiusa ang dagkong pamilya dire sa dakbayan sa Mandaue and in fact this will not be the last kay duna pay mga pamilya nga nagpadaa na ug kuan nga mo-join sila sa LP," Cortes said. (I am happy with recent developments because for so long I have tried to unite all the families here in Mandaue and others have expressed interest to join the party.)

The mayor, however, refused to say who these families are. He will divulge the details once the oathtaking will be finalized, he said.

Cortes explained that it is not remote that the Cortes and the Ouano families will unite because his father, the late mayor Demetrio Cortes Sr. and the Ouano patriach, former mayor Alfredo "Pedong" Ouano, had ran the city for a long time with Pedong as his father's vice mayor during the Martial Law days up to the 1986 Edsa revolution.

Since his slate is now complete, the mayor also said that they will now strengthen LP in the city so that they can start moving up and push for candidates for the provincial board, congress and in the senate.

"We will make sure our group is a formidable force and a team to reckon with," Cortes added.

Ouano-Dizon said that her father, Board Member Thadeo Ouano and her grandfather, former mayor Alfredo Ouano, approved of her joining the LP. But when asked if his father will also join LP, she said it is Cortes' prerogative to invite his father to join the party. "But whatever political affiliation unya si PB Ted willing man sad siguro si Mayor Jonas nga magkuyog mi ni Papa" Ouan-Dizon said. 

 In the last elections, PB Member Ouano ran under the One Cebu Party of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia which is also allied with the Lakas Party. Ouano-Dizon clarified yesterday that his father will be seeking re-election and will not be running for a seat in Congress.

Cortes, for his part, said they are opening their doors for PB Ouano whom he understands will be joining the LP.

  Yesterday's oathtaking ceremony was administered by Mayor Cortes himself being the party's district chairman. It was witnessed by Ouano-Dizon's husband, former Mandaue City police consultant Nixon"Jojo" Dizon while Cabahug's husband, Looc Barangay Captain Raul "Pukang" Cabahug, and all their children were also present. — (FREEMAN)