Wakee’s allies form own slate for elections

WITH uncertainty clouding his mayoralty bid, allies of boxing manager Rex “Wakee” Salud decided to form their own group to run in this year’s elections.

Led by businessman Johnson Tan, the group dubbed as “Team K” styled themselves as an opposition group to incumbent Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy in its launching yesterday.

“We cannot wait until March (for Wakee to resolve his appeal to the Commission on Elections) because it’s disadvantageous on our part. We have to organize so the people won’t be confused on whom to vote for,” Tan said.

Tan filed his candidacy for mayor of Cordova last Oct. 5. “That was our plan with Wakee that if he cannot run at least there’s still the opposition team in Cordova,” he said.

He said if Wakee’s appeal is ruled favorably by the Comelec or the Supreme Court, then there will be four slates running in Cordova.

There will be Sitoy’s team under the Liberal party, Cordova Vice Mayor Rodrigo Jumao-as under “One Cebu” party, Rex “Wakee” Salud as an independent and Tan’s “Team K” party.

Tan said Wakee is seldom seen during their meetings.

“We asked Wakee to honor our commitments and agree on a Plan B if he gets disqualified but he’s visiting the barangays and campaigning,” Tan said. He said their group lacks financial support.

“My building in barangay Poblacion is scheduled for demolition since it is in the way of a road widening project,” Tan said.

Tan, whose three-storey building is being used for group meetings, claimed that Mayor Sitoy might be behind this plan as he refused to join his slate for council.

“I committed to Wakee. I approached him but Sitoy said he already had a complete slate,” he said.

His son Johnson “Jay-R” Tan III is also running with him as a council candidate. Tan is a native of Mindanao who moved to Cordova town six years ago. He has businesses in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza