Mending fences in Mandaue: Mayor signs up Dr. Soon-Ruiz

THEY used to be rivals for the Mandaue city mayorship.

Yesterday Mayor Jonas Cortes yesterday appointed Dr. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz as the city’s public health consultant.

By signing up the former 6th district congresswoman, Cortes gained an ally and further consolidated his base.

Both signed a work agreement in the mayor’s office with Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and several city councilors present.

The mayor said Soon-Ruiz’s presence “will help a lot” as a medical doctor and experience in Congress and the Provincial Board where she handled health committees.

Cortes said he wanted to leave a legacy of a united Mandaue City.

“Let bygones be bygones,” said the mayor.

Soon-Ruiz, meanwhile, said that her commitment to serve the people of Mandaue “transcends politics.

Asked she would run for office in 2013, she just smiled and said “let’s just see”.

As city consultant, Ruiz will be receiving a professional fee of P18, 000 a month for six months.

Last month, Mayor Cortes also appointed a political critic, former vice mayor Carlo Fortuna as consultant for legislative affairs.

City Councilors Lollipop Ouano-Dizon and Editha Cabahug who ran under the ticket of Soon-Ruiz in the 2010 elections have already switched over to the Cortes administration.

Lollipop’s s father Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano announced he would join the Liberal Party soon, leaving the One Cebu party.

Last month, 6th district Rep. Luigi Quisumbing transferred to the LP.