By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
COUNCILOR Lourdes “Candy” Darimbang yesterday trashed Mayor Oscar Moreno even as she revealed that she has rejected an alleged offer from the mayor’s group for her to be his running mate in next year’s elections.
“Ulahi na ang tanan,” said Darimbang. “It’s already too late because I have decided not to join them anymore.”
Darimbang said former Canito-an barangay chairperson Marilyn Lagumen and Reuben Daba, both members of Moreno’s 2016 ticket, and 1st District Rep. Rolando Uy’s chief of staff Shiela Lumbatan tried to talk her into agreeing to run for vice mayor but she declined.
She vented her resentment towards Moreno, saying she rejected the offer because she was insulted.
Darimbang said she was offered to run for vice mayor right after 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez’s Sept. 13 announcement that he has decided to run for mayor next year against Moreno and ex-mayor Vicente Emano.
She said Rodriguez’s announcement changed Moreno’s plan of fielding Nazareth barangay chairperson Jocelyn Rodriguez, the congressman’s sister, as his running mate.
“Sigi na man gani to i-announce publicly ni Mayor Moreno nga si Bebot (Jocelyn Rodriguez) iyang vice mayor,” Darimbang said.
She said she had expressed interest on becoming Moreno’s running mate until the mayor started talking about his plan to take the Nazareth barangay chairperson as his running mate. “Nasayod man si Mayor Moreno nga gusto ko mag-vice mayor kaniya.”
Darimbang said her resentment started long before Rep. Rodriguez’s Sept. 13 declaration especially after she found out that the Moreno camp allegedly started a signature campaign to convince the congressman’s sister into running for vice mayor under the mayor’s group. She said she learned this through members of the so-called “Barangay Council Leaders,” a group closely associated with the Moreno administration.
She revealed that she would run for higher office, independent from Moreno’s group but still under the administration Liberal Party (LP) because she would support former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II’s presidential bid.
“I am now closely working with Secretary Mar for my candidacy for a higher position,” she said.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
