Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing, who is running for reelection, is betting on the people of the “New Mandaue.”
Quisumbing said in an interview on Wednesday said that these New Mandaue people would value more the performance of their candidates than their influential family names.
He said that the people in Mandaue would be looking for the sincerity of a politician to serve them and reject those who are corrupt.
“Para nako, ang mga Mandauehanons value greater things. We value greater things that are more important than family names. We value performance, good governance and more importantly, Mandauehanons reject corruption (For me Mandauehanons value greater things. We value greater things that are more important than family names. We value performance, good governance and more importantly, Mandauehanons reject corruption),” he said.
Quisumbing, who is eyeing a second term as city mayor, will go against Cebu’s sixth district Rep. Jonas Cortes, who is also contesting the mayor’s seat.
Cortes has forged an alliance with the Ouanos – another prominent family in the political landscape in Mandaue City.
Although he recognized the family name as an advantage, Quisumbing said he believed the people in Mandaue City would not only look at the last names in choosing their leaders.
“Quite frankly, having last names is a factor. I believe in Mandaue your best qualification must be your sincerity to serve, your performance and not your last name,” Quisumbing said.
Quisumbing, the standard bearer of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and his party filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) on Wednesday, which is the last day of the filing.
His runningmate is the incumbent Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna.
Their candidates for councilors under their local party Hugpong Mandauehanons sa Pagbabago are Elmer Cabahug, Raul Cabahug V, Nilo Seno, Alfonso Albaño Jr., Robby Ben Basiga, Jose Jefferson Ceniza, Laiza Kristel Gingoyon, Leo Jabas, Leo Saberon and Malaquias Soco.
The party will also be supporting Editha Cabahug who is running as Provincial Board (PB) member in the sixth district.
On Oct. 22, Quisumbing said they will formally ink their allegiance with the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).
Quisumbing and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who founded HNP, will sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to formalize their ties.
Carpio is expected to come in Mandaue City on that day.