One Cebu loses Ouano to LP

CEBU, Philippines - The One Cebu Party is losing one more ally in the provincial board to the Liberal Party.

Provincial Board Member Thadeo "Teddy" Ouano is set to formally take his oath with the Liberal Party today. The oath taking will be held at the office of Sixth District Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing at the Norkis Clubhouse in Mandaue City.

Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie "Lollipop" Ouano-Dizon said that LP provincial chairman and gubernatorial aspirant Hilario Davide III will administer the oath of her father.

Quisumbing and the Ouanos ran under One Cebu Party in 2007 and 2010 elections but recently shifted to LP in preparation for the 2013 elections.

Ouano told The FREEMAN that it was Quisumbing, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy and Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado who arranged for his oath taking.

With Ouano's joining the LP, only Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy is left with One Cebu in the sixth district. Having the Ouanos however does not give the assurance of full support to Davide-Magpale tandem.

The patriarch of the Ouanos, former Mandaue City mayor Alfredo "Pedong" Ouano, earlier said that some of their family members might not support the Davide-Magpale tandem.

Running against Davide is third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia, the brother of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Teddy will seek reelection next year after his father told him not to seek another position like congressman or vice governor. Teddy cannot also run for mayor because of their alliance with Mayor Jonas Cortes who still has another term.

PB now has two LP members – Ouano and Sitoy. Although the members of the Durano led Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) are their allies.

Magpale together with PB Members Jude Thaddeus Sybico and Carmen Remedios Meca are allied with LP. Majority of the members of the board however are still with One Cebu but some of them are of questionable loyalty because they were either close to Davide or relatives of the Duranos. — (FREEMAN)