Replacing Ouano in PB impractical, unnecessary

Family and relatives of the late Provincial Board member Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano gather near his coffin as retired bishop Antonio Rañola says a prayer for his soul at St. Peter’s Chapel in Mandaue City. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Top administration officials find it “impractical” to fill the post left by the late Provincial Board (PB) Member Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano since the elections are fast approaching.

“The elections are coming. It’ll be short of time. I don’t think it will be practical,” Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said in a press conference.

Ouano ran and won under the Liberal Party (LP) in 2013, giving the party an advantage of choosing a replacement among their own.

Mandaue City Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and Consolacion Municipal Councilor Julius Alegado are both running for a PB slot under the LP.

There are four months left in the term of Ouano as PB member which will end on June 30, 2016.

While Davide said it would be impractical to fill in the vacancy, he added that he will still take it up with the party being the LP chairman in Cebu.

At present, however, Davide said he does not want to discuss the matter yet.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale also thinks a replacement is unnecessary.

“It would be useless because it’ll be elections in a few weeks,” she told CDN in a phone interview.

During its caucus session yesterday, PB members did not even discuss the matter.

Magpale said she would rather set the issue aside first in deference to the bereaved family and especially because it is political in nature.

The vice governor said she doesn’t think the vacancy will cripple the provincial board.

“Unless their worry is the welfare of those in the sixth district, then there is still another board member,” she said, referring to PB Member Arleigh Sitoy.

She said Sitoy is willing to co-sponsor measures proposed by Ouano before his death.

Magpale said they will find a way to settle the issue, but they will have to wait until after Ouano’s burial.

Ouano was the chairman of the committee on environment and natural resources and the committee on ways and means.

Lawyer Pulchra Marie Acevedo, PB secretary, said his vice chairman for each committee will automatically act as acting chairman until the presiding officer appoints a new one.

PB Member Joven Mondigo Jr. will act as chairman of the committee on environment and natural resources while PB Member Alex Binghay will serve as acting chairman of the committee on ways and means.

Acevedo said the PB will offer a necrological service for Ouano in his family’s residence in Barangay Opao, Mandaue City tonight.

They will be presenting the PB’s resolution of condolence, approved on mass motion during yesterday’s regular session.

The resolution was jointly authored by PB Member Sitoy and Vice Governor Magpale.

“There is a Danish proverb that says ‘good men must die, but death cannot kill their names.’ It cannot kill the name of Teddy Ouano,” said Sitoy in his resolution.

PB Member Carmen Remedios Meca offered a special prayer for Ouano at the beginning of the session yesterday.
The flag in front of the Capitol yesterday was flown at half mast in honor of the late board member.