May 26, 2022
AFTER being declared the winning mayor of Cordova town, Cebu on May 9, 2022, Cesar “Didoy” Suan, along with winning councilors, took the oath of office on Wednesday, May 25.
Of all the mayors in Cebu province, Suan was the first mayor-elect sworn into office.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said there is nothing wrong with winning candidates taking oath before June 30, as long as they officially assume their respective positions by 12:01 p.m. of June 30.
This meant that the oath taken by elected Cordova officials is valid.
Lawyer Jerome Brillantes, acting election supervisor of Comelec-Cebu, said winning candidates can now be sworn in before June 30 or the same day.
“Most likely, okay ra man na. Wala may prohibition ana. Ang kinahanglan ana nga dili lang ma-vacuum ang power within June 30,” Brillantes told reporters on May 26.
(Most likely, it’s okay. There is no prohibition on it, as long as power will not be vacuumed within June 30.)
“Kinahanglan, you will assume your responsibility sa June 30 na, sa 12 noon,” he added.
(You should assume your responsibilities by June 30 at noon.)
Accompanying Suan in the swearing-in was vice mayor-elect Victor “Boyet” Tago III and councilors.
Suan’s oath of office was administered by Francisco Ando Jr., president of the Association of Barangay Captains.
Suan said he would try his best to slide away from politicking for the development of Cordova.
“Taas-taas pa ta og trabahuonon… Let us accept all the sacrifices. Let us accept all the pains… For the common denominator and for the common goal, kinahanglan mag-abot ta. For one and only atoang gusto ang pagpalambo, ang pagpaasenso sa tagsa-tagsa ka tawo sa Cordova,” Suan said through his official Facebook page.
(We still have a long way to go. Let us accept all the sacrifices. Let us accept all the pains. For the common denominator and for the common goal, everyone should meet in the middle. For we only want development, the advancement of the people of Cordova.)
Suan defeated incumbent Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho by a margin of 4,000 votes in the May 9 elections. (ANV/JGS)