AFTER a failed run for Mandaue City’s mayorship in 2010, former legislator Nerissa Soon-Ruiz yesterday said she will run for Cebu’s 6th congressional district against incumbent Rep. Luigi Quisumbing.
The physician, who was tapped as consultant for health programs by Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, is running under the One Cebu party.
Although Mayor Cortes is with the Liberal Party, Once Cebu will adopt his local slate and not field a candidate against him, she said.
Soon-Ruiz said she’s only waiting for the decision of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and her brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia on their negotiations with businessman Glenn Soco.
She said Soco was offered a a slot as Provincial Board member in the 6th district to keep him in the party’s fold after he was passed over as runningmate to Pablo John in favor of former Danao City vice mayor Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV.
Soon-Ruiz said the Garcias met Soco yesterday to finalize matters. In case Soco wants to run for Cebu’s 6th district as congressman, Soon-Ruiz said she is ready to give way.
“Based on past One Cebu meetings, I’m 80 to 90 percent sure that I would run for Congress since the party’s finished its PB lineup. I’m just waiting for word like a faithful party soldier. Whatever is the order I follow,” Soon-Ruiz said in a radio interview.
“One Cebu’s doesn’t have a local slate because of the smooth relations between Cortes and Garcia and she said Mandaue City was run well by the mayor,” Soon-Ruiz said.
She said she doesn’t hold a grudge against Cortes. “Our relations are good. We decided to bury our political animosities,” Soon-Ruiz said. Correspondents Jhunnex Napallacan and Norman V. Mendoza