Appointment to the vacancy in the Provincial Board brought about by the death of Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano could spell an unexpected advantage for aspirants to the position coming from the Liberal Party.
Ouano ran for the position and won under the LP in 2013, thus his replacement in the Provincial Board should come from the party.
Mandaue City Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede is prepared to accept an LP nomination if it was offered to him. But he said he will not ask for it.
“Grateful ko if ako ilang pilion kay maka-serve na ko (sa tibuok sixth district). But if duna silay lain ipalingkod ug dili ako, wa koy mahimo. Mag-agad ra ko sa desisyon sa partido (I will be grateful if they choose me because I can serve the whole sixth district. But if they appoint somebody else, there is nothing I can do. I will abide by the decision of the party),” Bercede said.
INCUMBENTS
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Rene Burdeos said incumbent officials can be considered to replace Ouano in the PB, but he would have to resign from his current position in order to qualify.
The sixth district is entitled to two slots in the Provincial Board. Bercede is running for the PB slot under the LP together with Consolacion municipal councilor Julius Alegado. Alegado could not be reached for comment. Both are incumbent officials holding elective positions.
There are four months left in the term of Ouano as PB member, which will end on June 30, 2016.
Nomination
The DILG has given the LP the go-signal to nominate a party member to take Ouano’s seat in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Sec. 45 of the Local Government Code states that in case of a permanent vacancy in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the political party under which the Sanggunian member concerned had been elected, shall appoint the person to replace him.
DILG Provincial Director Gerome Gonzales said that as a matter of procedure, Gov. Hilario Davide III, as LP Cebu provincial chairman, would be the one to endorse the party’s choice for Ouano’s replacement to the Office of the President for approval.
The nominee, Gonzales said, should be a party member holding a certificate of membership.
SENSITIVE
Meanwhile, Capitol Information Officer Ethel Natera said LP Cebu officials have yet to discuss the choice of Ouano’s replacement.
“(The) governor and LP are also being sensitive to the feelings of his family,” Natera said.
Instead, she said they are preparing for a necrological service for Ouano at the Capitol on Friday.
Bercede said the matter of Ouano’s replacement has not yet been discussed by LP Cebu members, but he expressed confidence that a discussion is forthcoming soon.
REELECTION BID
While the Liberal Party can name Ouano’s replacement in the PB, it will be One Cebu–UNA Coalition who will choose his replacement as party candidate for the post because Ouano filed his Certificate of Candidacy for his reelection under One Cebu-UNA.
This came after the administration party picked incumbent sixth district Rep. Luigi Quisumbing as candidate for Mandaue mayor against his daughter, incumbent councilor Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano-Dizon.
The family is considering his son Jovito Thadeo “Jonkie” to carry on his father’s reelection bid.
“Pero kung ako ang mapilian sa among pamilya, andam ra man sab hinoon ko pero maghulat pa ta sa disisyon sa partido (If the family will choose me, I am ready but we have to await the decision of the party)”, Jonkie said.
WAKE
Meanwhile, Ouano’s remains have been transferred to the family residence in Barangay Opao, Mandaue City, where the wake is now being held.
His wife, Linda, said there was not enough space at the St. Peter’s Chapels to accommodate the floral wreaths and visitors./with a report by correspondent noman mendoza
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