Sitoy: Radazas backing rival’s 2013 poll bid

The stakes are  high for Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy’s reelection bid.

He’s running against influential  boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud  but the lawyer says  one  of those behind his rival is  Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Arturo Radaza.

“The Radazas are behind Salud’s candidacy, because they want Mactan to become a province and a masiao capital of the Philippines,” Sitoy alleged.

He said the congressman used to come to his house in  Cordova during his first term as mayor and tell him about his “dream” to make Lapu-Lapu city  a province by annexing Cordova town, and turning Olango Island into a municipality to fulfill requirements of land area, population and income for a province status.

“I agreed. I asked  him to file a bill for that and said  we would support it.  But until now, nothing happened. I don’t know if he knows hotw to file abill. And he’s supporting someone now who shouldn’t win in Cordova,” said Sitoy.

Radaza’s spokesman Jonji Gonzales  said they would not comment on the allegations.

Congressman Radaza is not seeking reelection due to health issues; he instead fielded his 28-year-old daughter Aileen.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paza Radaza, the solon’s wife, advised Sitoy to  focus on his opponent.

“Nagsalimuang lang si Sitoy.   Pataka lang siya’g panlambigit.  Mo-fcous lant ta siya sa iyang kontra,” she said through her spokesman.

In a phone interview, Sitoy said he will file a petition to cite Salud and his lawyer Fillmore Gomos in contempt of court tomorrow over  the disqualification issue against  Salud as a registered voter of Cordova.

The Mandaue Regiona Trial Court  ruled that the boxing promoter did not have voter status in the town but Salud went ahead and filed his Certificate of Candidacy on Oct. 4 as well as a motion for reconsideration.

Salud has until Oct. 31 to refile his application to be a registered voter of  Codova, according to the Comelec provincial office.

Mayor Sitoy said he was informed by a Cordova native who attended Radaza’s birthday celebration in his house.

Sitoy said Radaza allegedly declared Salud as the next Cordova mayor in front his visitors.

But Sitoy said he will do everything to protect Cordova from being part of the so-called “masiao capital.”

“Salud hasn’t met the one year residency requirement for running in Cordova,” he said.

Gonzales said Radaza doesn’t want to comment on Sitoy’s statement.

He said the congressman’s wife and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza advised Sitoy to focus on Salud instead and avoid dragging their names into their dispute.

“He’s being presumptuous in hurling accusations. He should focus on Salud,” Gonzales quoted Mayor Radaza as saying.

Sitoy has requested the Comelec en banc to cancel Salud’s Certificate of Candidacy (COC).

When asked why he filed the petition directly to Comelec in Manila, Sitoy said he doubts the local Comelec office.

“I could not be complacent in Cebu. They might be filled with food once again,” he said.

Sitoy referred to a Cebu Daily News photo showing Salud eating with Cebu City north district election officer Marchel Sarno in a restaurant in Mandaue City.

Sarno earlier said his meeting with Salud was a chance encounter.

He also said he has no jurisdiction over election cases in Cordova.