By NITZ ARANCON and SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondents
MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano and Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez are set on launching their reelection bids as the two of the province’s highest officials lead members of their 2016 ticket in filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) today.
Pelaez and Padayon Pilipino campaign manager for Misamis Oriental Clint Jude Puertas confirmed that Emano’s group plans to file the COCs at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) this morning.
If plans don’t miscarry, seven Padayon Pilipino candidates for the provincial board would join Emano and Pelaez in filing their COCs. As of Saturday, three slots in the Padayon Pilipino ticket for the provincial board remained vacant, according to Pelaez.
At presstime, the Emano-Pelaez group has yet to name its candidates for the province’s two congressional seats.
Pelaez identifed only seven Padayon Pilipino candidates for the provincial board: provincial board members Mercy Grace Acain, Nancy Madjos, Susan Lagbas and Jeremy Pelaez, Jerry Khu, Gerardo Sabal, and Cagayan de Oro Councilor President Elipe.
The vice governor said Lagbas, Jeremy Pelaez, and Khu would run for provincial board seats in the 1st District while Acain, Madjos, Sabal and Elipe would be the candidates for the 2nd District.
He said the Padayon Pilipino would announce two more candidates in the 1st District and another one in the 2nd District before Oct. 16.
Puertas confirmed that Councilor Elipe, Emano’s brother in law, has been included in the Padayon Pilipino ticket. He said the councilor registered as voter in the province’s 2nd District.
Elipe, who is serving his third and last office term as councilor in the city, neither confirmed nor denied he would run for provincial board member.
“Wa paman ko ng pirma so dili pa gyud na final,” said Elipe. He however added that anyone who would question why he registered as a voter in Tagoloan town may file a complaint against him.
“Pwede man mo-file bisag kinsa,” he said. “Wala pa ma-final ang set-up sa province, and if naay mag file ug case, it’s their right as much as it is my right to serve the people. I believe it’s the people’s decision. Dapat dili sila mataranta kung mudagan ko.”
Puertas said the Padayon Pilipino was still “fine tuning” its ticket, and it has continued with its consultations.
The group’s counterparts in Cagayan de Oro however would file their COCs on Friday, according to Councilor Alexander Dacer.
Dacer said Emano’s father Vicente, Padayon Pilipino head and former mayor of the city, would lead the party’s candidates in the city in hearing mass at the Fatima Chapel on Velez St. before they proceed to the Comelec office in the city on Friday afternoon.
He said the group has yet to decide on its candidate for congressman in the 1st District but Councilor Ramon Tabor would be its bet in the 2nd District.
Dacer said the Padayon Pilipino candidates for city council seats in the 1st District are Jose Pepe Abbu, Inday Dahino, Simeon Licayan, Kauswagan barangay chairman Pedro Balite, Councilor Annie Daba, Lordan Suan, broadcaster Ronnie Waniwan, and Marycor Calizo.
For the 2nd District: Councilors Nadya Elipe, Conrad Lim, Dometilo Acenas, Ian Mark Nacaya, Oscar Musni, Gigi Go, and Suzette Magtajas-Daba.
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