Cordova mayor quits One Cebu, joins LP

ONE Cebu lost another ally when Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy confirmed his exit yesterday from the administration party.

He said he wanted to preserve family solidarity.

He is transferring to the Liberal Party-Cebu chapter of his son Provincial Board Arleigh Sitoy.

He will also run for vice mayor as the runningmate of his granddaughter lawyer Leighna Katrina Sitoy-Abarquez of LP.

“I am very sorry to advise your good self that I have decided to tender my irrevocable resignation from One Cebu party effective today,” said Sitoy in a letter to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia last Tuesday.

“I told the governor that while I have managed to survive my political differences with son Arleigh, I find it extremely difficult at my age to be politically at odds with my grandchildren, especially Katrina Abarquez,” Sitoy said in an interview yesterday.

Sitoy will be sworn into the LP with others this Saturday, Cebu-LP chairman Hilario Davide III said.

Sitoy, while citing family reasons, complained that the Capitol administration of Garcia did not support his town’s programs, especially the unfinished Cordova Reclamation Project.

READ: Cebu mayors urge Gwen to run for 3rd district instead

“I’m disappointed due to the noncompletion of some projects. Cordova wasn’t noticed because it is just a little town),” said Sitoy in an interview at Cordova’s municipal hall.

“Every town should have a credit line. We should stop begging. The province is rich but the towns are very poor,” Sitoy said.

“Now that I’m with the LP, I hope the government will implement programs that are not selective and rendering of services is not based on requests and number of voters.”

Other One Cebu members who have left to join the LP in recent months are 4th district Rep. Luis Quisumbing, PB Member Thadeo Ouano, amd Sitoy’s granddaughter Leighna Abarquez.

“The LP’s strength will be consolidated. Adelino Sitoy’s entry is a big boost to us, especially in the 6th district,” Davide told CCTN news.

Sitoy said if he is elected vice mayor, he could continue his law practice. He was formed dean of the law school of the University of Cebu.

Rep. Pablo John Garcia, secrtary general of One Cebu and its gubernatorial candidate, said he expected the break already.

“I heard three weeks ago that he would slide down to vice mayor in favor of his granddaughter. If he stayed with One Cebu it would be untenable,” the congressman said.

Sitoy said he decided against handcarrying his resignation letter to the governor because he may have “apprehensions about leaving the party” if they start talking face to face.

“My letter to her is enough.”

“It’s a choice between politics and family. The family comes first. We have to settle things black and white. We lived in the same house. I thought about it several times and talked with my family. I decided to give way,” he said./With Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol and Correspondent Joy Quinto