Radaza’s Mactan province bid questioned

DEFEATED Lapu-Lapu City mayoral candidate Efrain Pelaez Jr. said he’s positive that Cebuanos will oppose the plan by Rep.-elect Aileen Radaza to convert Mactan Island into a separate province.
Pelaez, a businessman, said making Mactan a province is another ‘Sugbuak’ attempt in reference to previous attempts by local officials to break away from Cebu province.
The creation of a Mactan province will be the first bill filed by Rep.-elect Radaza, who succeeded her father Arturo Radaza.
The elder Radaza plans to undergo rehabilitation for an ailing knee.
The plan gained support from Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy who said they are willing to join since they are geographically located near Lapu-Lapu City.
But Pelaez said the creation of a Mactan province won’t solve Lapu-Lapu City’s problems.
He said it will only perpetuate the Radaza family’s grip on power.
“Province-hood is not the solution to the woes–the cancer–of Lapu-Lapu City. It is transparent governance, effective management and passionate leadership,” he said.
A week before the May 13 elections, Pelaez filed charges against Arturo and Paz for allegedly paying P500 million to “ghost employees” since 2001. The charges were filed before the Ombudsman-Visayas. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos