Upsets, victories for Cebu’s political clans

CEBU, Philippines — While ushering in the biggest victories, the 2019 election brought in the biggest upsets in politics in several parts of the country, Cebu included.

In the Fifth District of Cebu, former Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco defeated incumbent congressman Red Durano, ending a 70-year-long monopoly of representation to Congress.

The Duranos have held power in the Fifth District since 1949.

Frasco said this change of leadership is a decision made by the residents in the Fifth District.

“More on napildi sila (Duranos) sa mga tawo kay usa ra man ang Frasco ang nilansar pero daghan man nibotar. Di lang ako but it’s really the people of the Fifth District nga nanghinaot sila og kausaban (It’s more of them getting defeated by the people because I am only one candidate, but there were many of them who voted. I and the people of the Fifth District really wanted change),” Frasco said.

The Fifth District is composed of Liloan; Danao City; Sogod; Tudela; Borbon; Catmon; Compostela; Carmen; and the towns of Pilar, Poro, and San Francisco in Camotes Islands.

Before running for Congress, Frasco was mayor of Liloan three times. He ran and won as vice mayor but held the position for only six months after President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him as commissioner of the Cebu Port Authority. Last year, he resigned from CPA when he decided to run for Congress.

Frasco said he will continue his work in education, job generation, and delivery of basic services but he will also give particular focus on making Liloan a city.

"In terms of area and local budget, Liloan is already qualified to be a city but in terms of population, di pa mi qualified kay dapat 150,000 unya 142,000 pa ang population sa Liloan (Liloan is qualified in terms of area and budget but it’s not qualified just yet in terms of population. The population needs to be at least 150,000 and Liloan only has 142,000,” he said.

“I am urging everyone to live in Liloan ug kadtong mga taga Liloan, panganak pa mo (I am urging everyone to live in Liloan and I am urging the residents of Liloan to give birth to more babies," he added in jest.

Frasco's wife, Christina, also retained the town’s mayoralty seat.

Meanwhile, in Lapu-Lapu City, Junard "Ahong" Chan ended the 18-year dominance of the Radaza family at City Hall.

He defeated former mayor and current congressman Arturo Radaza in the race for mayor.

Radaza could only say it was a game well played.

He and his wife, incumbent mayor Paz Radaza, admitted getting shocked by the result of the elections. They are also in disbelief that that they lost in their own barangay, Barangay Mactan.

Paz, however, won a congressional seat for Lapu-Lapu.

“Nahugno gyud ang akong gibati bisan nakadaug pa ko kay wala man mi nakadaug tanan (I am devastated because not all of us won)," Paz said.

 Arturo is not conceding defeat just yet and said yesterday he will discuss with his group what actions to take.

Happy Ending

The picture, however, is different for the Ouano clan in neighboring Mandaue City and Consolacion town.

Emmarie "Lolypop" Ouano-Dizon, Thadeo "Jonkie" Ouano, and Alfie Ouano, children of former Mandaue mayor Thadeo Ouano and grandchildren of former mayor Alfredo Ouano, won as Sixth District representative, Board Member, and Consolacion councilor, respectively.

Another grandson of Alfredo, Anjong Ouano Icalina, also won as councilor of Mandaue.

"I am sure lipay kaayo si Papa Ted ug Tatay Pedong sa among kadaugan. We all thank tanan nga nitabang ug nibutar namo (I am sure Papa Ted and Tatay Pedong are happy of our victories. We thank everyone who helped us and voted for us)," Emmarie said.

Alfredo and Thadeo have passed away. — JMO (FREEMAN)