Former Agriculture undersecretary and mayoral aspirant Jose Gabriel La Viña raises the hands of his candidates -- ex-mayor Vicente Emano (right) and ex-congressman Rufus Rodriguez (left) -- after they filed their certificates of candidacy yesterday afternoon. Emano has opted to become La Viña’s running mate while Rodriguez wants to re-claim his old position. (photo by JB Deveza)
- Advertisement -
Mayor Oscar Moreno, Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy, 1st District Rep. Rolando Uy and Councilor Yan Lam Lim file their certificates of candidacy. Except for Lim who is running for 2nd District congressman, Moreno and the Uys are seeking reelection. (photo by Joey Nacalaban)

By JOEY NACALABAN
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents .

EX-MAYOR Vicente Emano yesterday pulled off a surprise by filing his certificate of candidacy for Cagayan de Oro vice mayor.

- Advertisement -

In Misamis Oriental, Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez, also pulling off a surprise, formally severed his ties with the Padayon Pilipino as he joined forces with former vice governor and National Unity Party standard bearer Julio Uy against the Emano group.

Emano, former Cagayan de Oro mayor and founding leader of the Padayon Pilipino, decided to challenge the reelection bid of Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy and be the running mate of newcomer Jose Gabriel La Viña, a former agriculture undersecretary.

Emano’s daughter, Councilor Nadya Elipe who was touted to be La Viña’s running mate, is not in the list of candidates of the Padayon Pilipino-Centrist Democratic Party coalition.

The Coalition fielded former congressman Rufus Rodriguez for 2nd District representative against PDP-Laban’s Councilor Yan Lam Lim. In the city’s 1st District, it’s going to be between reelectionist Rep. Rolando Uy of PDP-Laban and former vice mayor Caesar Ian Acenas of the Padayon-Pilipino-CDP coalition.

Former Misamis Oriental vice governor Julio Uy and his wife Juliette, a congresswoman, file their certificates of candidacy for governor and 2nd District representative, respectively, under the National Unity Party at the Commission on Elections provincial offiice yesterday. At left: the Uys are joined by their allies provincial board member Jeremy Pelaez for vice governor, Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez for 1st District congressman. Their candidates for the provincial board: Jabi Bernaldez, Jun-jun Lagbas, Jerry Kho, Dante Rio, Boris Actub, Paquito Mortola, Rey Paduganan, Angel Lim and Jessa Mugot. (photos by Joey Nacalaban)

For city council seats, the Coalition’s official candidates for the 1st District are Jose Abbu Jr., Ronald Acenas, Alden Bacal, Adrian Barba, Al Legaspi Sr., Meneleo Navarro, Dante Pajo and Lordan Suan.

For the 2nd District: Dometilo Acenas Jr., Alexander Dacer, Leon Gan, Adonis Gumahad, James Judith II, Agnes Roa, Jocelyn Rodriguez, and Ramon Tabor.

The Padayon Pilipino-CDP candidates would fight it out with the Mayor Moreno’s bets for city council seats, mostly seeking reelection: Zaldy Ocon, Jay Pascual, Edna Dahino, Reuben Daba, George Goking, Moreno Daba Jr., Romeo Calizo, Roger Abaday, Maria Lourdes Gaane, Suzette Daba, Ian Mark Nacaya, Enrico Salcedo, Teodolfo Lao, Edgar Cabanlas, Andrew Melliza, and Girlie Balaba. They filed their certificates of candidacy yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, the sets of candidates in Misamis Oriental where Emano’s son Yevgeny Vincente is seeking reelection as governor also came as a surprise to many.

The younger Emano’s reelection bid is now being challenged by former vice governor Julio Uy whose group received a boost with the exodus of the Pelaez siblings from the Padayon Pilipino to the NUP.

Uy’s running mate is provincial board member Jeremy Pelaez who is running against Emano’s brother-in-law President, recently appointed to replace a provincial board member who died last year.

Uy’s wife Juliette is seeking reelection as representative of the province’s 2nd District while their group fielded Vice Gov. Pelaez, Jeremy’s brother, for congressman in Misamis Oriental’s 1st District.

The congresswoman’s reelection bid is being challenged by former Cagayan de Oro representative Jose Benjamin Benaldo.

In the province’s 1st District congressional race, Vice Gov. Pelaez is facing newcomer Christian Unabia whose father Peter is congressman and Gingoog vice mayoral candidate.

The NUP’s bets for the provincial board are Jabi Bernaldez, Jun-jun Lagbas, Jerry Kho, Dante Rio, Boris Actub, Paquito Mortola, Rey Paduganan, Angel Lim and Jessa Mugot.

Uy’s candidates for the provincial board are facing Gov. Emano’s bets: Wayne Militante, Erik Kho, Vincent Pelaez, Ken Uyguangco, Virgilia Dumadag in the 1st District, and Nancy Madjos, Gerardo Sabal, Bliss Acain, Saysay Emano and Dexter Yasay in the province’s 2nd District.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano (left) smiles as he shows his certificate of candidacy for governor. At right are Emano’s brother-in-law, provincial board member President Elipe and ex-congressman Jose Benjamin Benaldo submitting their papers for vice governor and congressman, respectively. (photos by Joey Nacalaban)

The former vice governor said he and his group would work to loosen the political grip of the Emano group on Misamis Oriental.

“Master kaayo sila anang politika pero sa kaayohan sa katawhan wala gyud. Busa nakita ko nga iluwa na sila sa katawhan karong pniliay,” said ex-vice governor Uy, adding that he would introduce genuine reforms in the province starting with the abolition of the capitol-owned Misamis Oriental Telephone System which he has has long been a liability.

“It is time for the people to wake up and make a choice,” Uy said.

Uy’s group claims to have the support of mayors Miraluna Abrogar of Claveria, Jojo Pagaspas of Jasaan, Jen-hen Uy of Villanueva, Maximo Seno of Opol, Edgar Legnes of El Salvador, Diosdado Obsioma of Laguindingan, Alvin Labis of Alibijid, Emmanuel Mugot of Gitagub, June Uy of Libertad and Marietta Abogado of Balingasag.

Vice Gov. Pelaez, for his part, stated of his decision to bolt the Padayon Pilipino and file his certificate of candidacy under Uy’s group: “I do so as a dutiful son of our beloved province and as a decendant of my forefathers who earlier served the province of Misamis Oriental and our country in many and various capacities.”

Pelaez said Misamis Oriental needs “genuine and passionate leaders” who would bring about real growth and development, and “who go beyond their personal and business interests; leaders who are seen and heard; leaders who truly serve the poor, the underprivileged, the old and the young; and leaders who work hard daily to make their people happy and better.”

If he succeeds in his bid to represent the province’s 1st District, Pelaez said he would be an active legislator and “will not be a member of the so-called ‘silent committee’ in Congress.”

He said his decision to unite with the Uys “was a product of a deliberate and conscious reflection motivated only by my sincere desire to serve …”

Gov. Emano, for his part, said his line-up of candidates is more competent now.

He said of Vice Gov. Pelaez’s decision: “Gihatagan namo og katungod si Vice Gov. Pelaez nga motabok sa pikas og kini iyang katungod.”

Emano said he admitted he was saddened with the move of Pelaez. “Gusto gani unta nako nga dungan kami og undang sa among current position. Inig-abot sa panahon pwede kami mag baylo og position.”

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.

- Advertisement -