Former mayor eyed for Cebu’s 6th district

With Rep. Gabriel “Luigi” Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district out of their fold, the administration One Cebu party is looking towards former Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano to run for them in next year’s elections.

Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district said the party has picked up on Ouano’s interest to run for the province’s sixth district, but they will have to negotiate with him.

Pablo John, One Cebu secretary general, also declined to comment on businessman Glenn Soco’s offer last Friday to run for vice governor in tandem with him.

“I must say that (Ouano running) is a very good option. But first I must talk to him at length about this since this is very important addition which will have to be reached by him and by the party together,” he said.

The congressman said Ouano, who’s now Provincial Board (PB) member representing Cebu’s sixth district, is highly qualified being a former Mandaue City mayor for three consecutive terms.

“But a lot of things can still happen. It’s still one year away. We have to talk at length about this,” he said.

Ouano reportedly expressed interest to run for Congress after Quisumbing joined the Liberal Party (LP) two weeks ago.

Both Pablo John and his sister, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia downplayed Quisumbing’s exit. Pablo John said Quisumbing, grandson of business tycoon Norberto Quisumbing Jr., joined the LP “to simplify things in the local level.”

He pointed out that the mayors of Mandaue City and the towns of Consolacion and Cordova town were affiliated with the LP.

Quisumbing’s entry was seen to strengthen the LP’s presence in Cebu and boost the gubernatorial bid of its local chairman, former Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III.

The elder Ouano is with One Cebu, though the Ouano family had been working to smoothen ties with the LP-affiliated Cortes administration.

Ouano reportedly expressed his interest to run for Cebu’s sixth district during the Philippine Councilor’s League convention held last week in Cebu.  Calls made by Cebu Daily News to Ouano and Rep. Quisumbing were unanswered last night.

Despite Quisumbing’s departure, Pablo John said the Garcias and the Quisumbings remain friends.

Pablo John, who confirmed his bid for the gubernatorial post, also declined to talk about Soco’s offer to run for vice governor under One Cebu.

He said the party’s offer to Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale still stands.

“There’s an alliance between One Cebu and Bakud (Magpale’s party). Out of respect for Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale whom we have offered the position, I cannot say anything definite about or react to the statement of Glen Soco,” he said.

“We’ll just wait for developments and that’s all really we could say at this point. I understand that she is now in the process together with her party on reaching the decision for the party,” he added.

In a press conference on Friday, Soco said he already notified One Cebu of his interest to seek election in tandem with Pablo John.

Soco ran with Governor   Garcia in 2010 but lost to the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr.

Soco said he was determined to run again, adding that he met with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who invited him to join the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) party of his father, former president Joseph Estrada.

The PMP is part of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which recently extended an offer to Governor Garcia to run for the Senate.

The governor is entertaining an option to run for Cebu’s third district, replacing Pablo John.

Governor Garcia, who was recently spotted with business tycoon Manny Pangilinan in a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) finals game, was reportedly scheduled to meet with Pampanga officials today.