Garcia: Filling up vacant post to create controversy

CEBU, Philippines - Former Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia believes that filling up the vacant position in the Cebu Provincial Board would only create a controversy because Board Member Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano, who caused the vacancy, had left the Liberal Party and joined One Cebu before he died.

 Garcia, an acknowledged legal luminary, said the Liberal Party may fill up the vacant post even during the election period. But he said it will surely create a controversy considering that the Ouanos in Mandaue are now with One Cebu Party.

“Kung maayo sila mokwenta-kwenta, pros and cons, maayo di nalang tingale kay og mopili sila og lain outside of the family, masuko ang taga Mandaue,” Garcia said.

The Omnibus Election Code and the Commission on Elections Resolution No. 10030 allow appointment to a position considered as essential to the proper functioning of the office and has been vacated by death of the incumbent.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier said the party under which the official ran when he was elected will be the one who will choose his replacement and not the party he is currently affiliated with.

In the case of Ouano, it is still LP who gets to nominate who will fill in the vacant post and it will be the President of the Philippines who will appoint.

LP had picked Mandaue City Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and Consolacion Councilor Julius Alegado as its candidates for PB in the sixth district.  

Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon earlier said her brother, Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, is set to replace their father in the race for PB member this coming elections.

LP provincial chairman, Governor Hilario Davide III, earlier said that if he were to decide, there will be no need to replace Ouano at the PB considering that the election is barely two months away.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale also shares the same sentiment.

Ouano was chairperson of the committees on Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Ways and Means.

PB Secretary lawyer Pulchra Marie Acevedo said that as a matter of procedure the vice chairmen of the committees, PB members Joven Mondigo Jr. and Alex Binghay, will take over Ouano’s post automatically. The committees can also appoint a new chairperson.

Ouano, 69, succumbed to cancer on February 26 at his residence in Barangay Opao, Mandaue City.

He was diagnosed of prostate cancer last year and had been in and out of hospital. He was on his second term as Board Member.

Davide,  Magpale tribute

Davide and Magpale honored Ouano during a necrological service the other night.

 “Good men must die but death cannot kill their names,” Magpale reads a Sangguniang Panglalawigan Resolution.

  “Ouano’s stint as PB member helped enriched the SP of Cebu as he has been very conscientious, efficient and effective in performing his duties and responsibilities as a legislator,” Magpale reads. — (FREEMAN)