Ouano, Cortes now M’daue allies

A YEAR before the elections, the Ouano family already pledged its support to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

The partriarch of the Ouano clan, former mayor Alfredo Ouano, with his daughter, Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie Ouano-Dizon, had a closed-door meeting with Cortes yesterday.

“I really took time to see Mayor Jonas to express our full support for his party not because of political favors but because I’ve seen that Mandaue City has progressed a lot. The economy has improved and the business sector is confident in his administration,” the former mayor said.

Ouano said he consulted his children like PB Member Thadeus “Teddy” Ouano and Councilor Dizon and they agreed to support Cortes.

He said PB Member Ouano and Dizon will seek reelection in their posts.

However, they still haven’t decided whom to support in the congressional race.

“Teddy will be a guest candidate of Jonas’ party as he goes under the party of Gov. Gwen Garcia. Teddy and Arleigh (Sitoy) will still be the candidates for the two PB seats,” he said.

In 2007, Teddy’s son Thadeo Jovito Ouano ran for mayor but lost to Cortes. In 2010, Cortes ran against former congresswoman Nerissa Soon-Ruiz whose candidacy was supported by the Ouanos.

Soon-Ruiz lost. /Correspondent Norman V.Mendoza