Lapu-Lapu city politics: Two bets claim family roots as advantage

CEBU, Philippines - Team Kusgano Movement for Better Lapu-Lapu headed by congressional candidate Celedonio Sitoy and mayoralty candidate Rolando Patalinjug have claimed that their families are native Oponganons as against their rivals.

Both claimed having their family roots come from Lapu-Lapu City as their advantage over other candidates who ran against the Radazas in the past election.

Sitoy of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) with Patalinjug’s slate expressed confidence that he will win against incumbent Representative Aileen Radaza.

“Labaw ko og kasinatian kontra ni Aileen, daghan nahibawo sa akong mga nahimo, amo gisaligan ang kaliwatan nga naa ra sa isla sa Mactan,” Sitoy said.

Sitoy had served the adjacent Cordova town as barangay captain, town councilor and the longest serving mayor.

His parents were both from Lapu-Lapu City of the families of Baguio, Amores, Potot, Muñez, Tero and Jumao-as on the mother side while Menguito, Taneo, Tajanlangit and Suan on the father’s side.    Radaza is the daughter of incumbent Mayor Paz Radaza who is from Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu.

Patalinjug on the other hand is the son of Pedro Patalinjug, the brother of the late Maximo Veloso Patalinjug who served as mayor of Lapu-Lapu City for 23 years from 1967 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1991.

His mother, Dionesia, is sister of the late General Romulo Querubin, also of Lapu-Lapu City.

“Kung nidaug si Pelaez og 11 ka-barangay sa 2013 elections, wa’y rason di mi kadaug og mas labaw pa,” Patalinjug said.

He was referring to businessman Efrain Pelaez, Jr. who ran but lost twice to Mayor Radaza. Pelaez is from Cebu City and is again running for the third time for the same position with Rene Espina Jr. for congressman under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Patalinjug’s runningmate Rufo Amores III also claimed that their group, being the strongest contender, is now the subject of the attacks of the camp of Radaza of the Liberal Party.

“Usa na sa amo’ng gauge ang pag-ataki ni Radaza sa amo, kami sa grupo sa Elect Patalinjug Sitoy Amores (EPSA) nga magmadaugon g’yud,” Amores said.  

Amores is the grandson of the late Rufo Amores Sr., the city vice mayor during the time of Maximo, who was responsible for Mactan Export Processing Zone being built in the city during the time of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Other candidates are former Punta Engaño barangay captain Angel Rodriguez for mayor and urban poor leader Concordio Austero for congressman under the United Nationalist Alliance, and independent candidates Prospero Imbong Cabahug for mayor and Prospero Victorino Cabahug for congressman.  (FREEMAN)