ANOTHER key member of the Garcia’s One Cebu party is switching allegiance to the Liberal Party – Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano.
The decision was announced Friday night by LP gubernatorial bet Hilario “Jun-Jun” Davide III during the birthday party of Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes at the Amnezia nightclub at the reclamation area.
“My father and daughter Lollipop have long been urging me to join the Liberal Party for the unity of Mandaue’s big clans and our own family,” said Ouano in Cebuano.
With this move, Mandaue City, anchor of the 6th district, has virtually become LP country.
Last month, 6th district Rep. Luigi Quisumbing also left One Cebu to take his oath as a Liberal Party member.
Ouano, a former Mandaue mayor, said Gov. Gwen Garcia who heads One Cebu was aware an announcement would be made and that he was confident she would “understand” his situation, since he told her beforehand of his family’s request.
Daughter Lollipop is already an LP member.
Ouano said he doesn’t know what position he will be running for in 2013.
He said this and the date of his oath-taking would still be discussed with Davide, LP provincial chairman.
Only Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy is left in the 6th district to stick it out with One Cebu. He said his friends in the LP don’t force him to jump ship and understand why he remains.
“Now is not the right time to be making a decision,” he said.
Present at Mayor Cortes party were Rep. Tomas Osmeña, Congressman Quisumbing, PB Member Arleigh Sitoy, Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, and Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy.
Also present were Teddy’s father, former Mandaue City Mayor Alfredo Ouano and Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, former 6th district congresswoman.
On Friday, another initiative of consolidation and political fence-mending took place when Mayor Cortes signed up Soon-Ruiz, his former opponent in the 2010 mayoralty race, Mandaue city consultant on public health.