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Three Cortes siblings will run as independents in their respective races in Mandaue City and Cebu's sixth congressional district while the Liberal Party (LP) selected a businessman as its mayoralty candidate in Lapu-Lapu City.
After three hours of secret balloting in yesterday's convention, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes will seek reelection in tandem with his former running mate, Banilad barangay captain Glenn Bercede in next year's elections.
In Lapu-Lapu City, the LP's sixth district picked businessman Efrain Pelaez, a critic of outgoing Mayor Arturo Radaza in tandem with Dr. Eduardo Tojong.
He is expected to go up against Radaza's wife Paz for the mayoralty post.
During Cortes's Padayon Mandaue party convention, only six council candidates were selected and there were no provincial bets.
Demetrio ?Jun Cortes Jr., who is among those gunning for a council seat, said he doesn't see any problem with him and his brothers running for office.
?How many Garcias are running out there? How many Ruizes are running for office? We (brothers) would complement each other,? he said.
Another older brother, Ariston ?Balodong? Cortes III will run for Cebu's sixth congressional district.
Mayor Cortes will go up against outgoing Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz of Cebu's 6th District for Mandaue City's top post while his older brother Ariston, who filed earlier yesterday morning, will run against former board member Gabriel Luis Quisumbing.
The 600-delegate Padayon Mandaue convention held secret balloting exercises to choose their official candidate for vice mayor and six out of 10 City Council seats.
Four are held by incumbents Diosdado Suico, Jimmy Lumapas, Beethoven Andaya and Jefferson Ceniza.
After hours of counting, the delegates of ?green and yellow? shirts declared Bercede winner at 421 votes compared to former Vice Mayor Amadeo Seno Jr. who only gathered 100 votes.
Although running as independents, the Padayon Mandaue have standing offers from the Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party.
?With doors closed, we have windows that are opened,? Mayor Cortes said.
Padayon Mandaue secretary general Fransisco Amit said they will respect the mayor's decision to remain independent but added that eventually they would have to endorse a national candidate.
Meanwhile Pelaez said he will file his candidacy tomorrow along with other members of his group.
The LP will field former Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Eugene Espedido as their candidate for Lapu-Lapu City's newly created congressional district in opposition against Mayor Radaza.
The Radazas are affiliated with the administration Lakas-Kampi coalition.
The LP's sixth district chairman Edmund Sanchez said the certificates of nomination were given to Pelaez's group because of their adherence to the party's principles of good governance and transparency.
Sanchez said Pelaez will make the official announcement of their lineup in the city.
Pelaez said they will hold a press conference today before filing their COCs.
Pelaez became a critic of the Radazas after the mayor closed down his businesses for his alleged failure to pay taxes to the city.
The businessman filed charges against Radaza before the Ombudsman-Visayas.
