Mandaue’s Cortes says he will campaign hard

MANDAUE City Mayor Jonas Cortes would still have to work hard during the campaign period, though he considers Atty. Victor Biaño not a real threat for the mayoralty race next year.

“Dili lang ko mokompyansa mao mangompanya ra gihapon mi, trabaho ra gihapon mi,” (I will not be complacent. We will work hard in the  campaign.),” Cortes said.

And a few days after the filing of Certificates of Candidacy, one of Cortes’s outspoken critics had already lashed out at him.

Dr. Paulus Cañete who heads the Mandaue City College (MCC) faction that competes with the City Hall backed school with the same name said the mayor do not have accomplishments to speak of.

Cañete said in his two terms in City Hall, Cortes did not have any accomplishments to be proud of.

The mayor, he said, was more focused on getting rid of the opposition to his administration.

Although he is not running in the 2013 elections, Cañete did not hide his support to Biaño who is a member of the Board of Directors of his school.

Cañete said that Mandaue mayor should have strong foundation in his education like Atty. Vic Biano, his running mate Benjamin Luage and five city councillors; Rannie Go, Marvin Bragat, Elmer Ripalda, Jessbeck Coca and Eddie Cortes.

Biano’s slate is dubbed as Mandaue Contra Corruption  filed under the Bagong Bayan party of Sen. Richard Gordon.

He scored Cortes for his alleged failure to solve flooding, traffic and bad roads.

Cañete said running a highly urbanized city requires that  a mayor should have a well-rounded educational background since it entails a lot of work and logic.

He revealed that he wanted to run for mayor against Cortes but he never liked politics and didn’t have enough background since he is a teacher.

When asked who will be the representative their line-up will support, Canete replied that it would be incumbent Rep. Luis Gabriel Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district.