Butch Bagabuyo “Do you know what is more hard to bear than the reverses of fortune? It is the baseness, the hideous ingratitude, of man.”--Napoleon KAGAY-ANONS, being proud but not hambuguero, are so friendly and hospitable to a fault. And it is precisely because of this trait that our politicians exert their utmost to shine in the national scene. But as I’ve repeatedly written in this column, the one thing the Plazans (practically all who are now Kagay-anons) love to hate is one who is hambuguero because they are usually ingrate. Kagay-anons, including all those who have voluntarily chosen our city as their own, know that where it not for the crucial endorsement by Congressman Rufus Rodriguez 10 days before the May 2013 elections and the whole-hearted support of the father and son team of former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Koko, transition Mayor Oscar Moreno would have lost miserably to the immediate past and long-serving mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano. Of course, Congressman Klarex Uy also helped but not much was expected of him because at that time, Emano, who was then still strong and healthy and being true to form, unleashed his juggernaut (Dongkoy fielded former mayor Tinnex Jaruala, former Congressman Benjo Benaldo and former Councilor Alvin Calingin) against Uy. Kagay-anons knew only too well that Klarex did nothing than to snore irritatingly in Congress while silently but agressively building his own business empire. Further, both Klarex and Oca used to be protégés of Dongkoy. And everybody knows how the immediate past and now sickly mayor Emano treats his former proteges. Better still ask Oca and Klarex, they’ll tell you mouthfuls. Oca is ingrato na hambuguero pa gyud. Long before the start of the 2013 elections campaign, Kagay-anons knew that their unanimous choice to replace overstaying and much maligned Dongkoy was Congressman Rufus Rodriguez but the latter repeatedly yet politely begged off because he had his eyes set on the Senate after his third and last term as a congressman. And Kagay-anons loved what they heard. But now it seems that even the mayorship is providential. Just you wait and see. Well-meaning political observers knew then that it was an uphill fight. But we were unanimous in our perception then that former Senate President Pimentel, Jr. and his son Senator Koko Pimentel would have no choice but to give their fullest support to Oca, otherwise, their claim to national fame would lose steam and Cagayan de Oro would be become the Makati of the South in terms of plunder, graft and corruption. Candidly, at that time, unless the Pimentels went out of their comfort zones by supporting the underdog, our city was going to the dogs, as a matter of saying. Call it what you may but right after the upset yet landslide victory, transition Mayor Oca wrote the beginning of his end in politics. Here are some of the uncontested reasons, why Oca himself brought his own inferno: Even prior to the end of the canvassing of votes, Oca’s head swelled not unlike that of PNoy, and his nose grew worse than that of that famous cartoon every time--nay, all the time--that he lied. All Kagay-anons knew that Oca owe a lot of political gratitude to the Rodriguez siblings. Instead, Oca, the once poor student from the municipality of Balingasag who could hardly afford a decent schooling (to distinguish if from education) gave Kagay-anons a clear and unmistakable sign of being an ingrato na hambuguero pa gyud. Oca shamelessly brought along with him his imported cronies from Quezon City and/or Metro Manila into the financial center of our city, known all over the country as a peaceful city of integrity until Dongkoy came in. Oca whimsically disregarded the mandatory provisions of the Civil Service code by capriciously replacing incumbents in the most critical departments involving money matters. And not contented with just arrogance, Oca capriciously hired husband and wife consultants. (Lest I be misunderstood especially because they are my good friends, let it be of record that I honestly find these couple competent, honest and God-fearing. But that is not the issue. Every incoming mayor is flooded with employment applications from those who believe they were fathers or mothers of the incumbent’s victory. Hence, in the past all our political savvy mayors cringed in securing win-win solutions.) Ergo, never has any sane and morally upright mayor in our city committed such insensitive act as Oca’s highly immoral and unconscionable act of hiring  husbands and wives in our city. Anyway, I suggest all the curious if not, rumor-mongers, listen to former barangay chairperson William Guialani’s narration why such despicable act was resorted to by Oca. And, finally, because the school buildings and classrooms were done without bidding, in violation of the Government Procurement Act or RA No. 9184 of 2003, and allegedly over-priced, dismissed and transition Mayor Moreno lacks forthright integrity. He is the first ever transition mayor dismissed by the Ombudman and a goner long before the elections have begun. The Plazans are saying: Mawo-oh. Robust Rufus Team Harus pa more. Tsada di ba?
  • •
With the split 2-1 decision by the other Comelec Division on the disqualification cases of Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares, the political party headed by street-smart Senator Chiz, allegedly funded by Imperial Manila and the Hyatt 10, is now a goner. Her case is unlike that of FPJ, her papa only by adoption; hence, I would not be surprised if the Liberal Party would now throw all the mud and concentrate their OMR (Operation Mar Roxas, especially now that they have changed the initial) digital dagdag-bawas machines against Davao Mayor Duterte. Our daunting task has just begun. With “Super Digong” Duterte and Team Robust Rufus Harus, we, Kagay-anons, shall, beyond the scintilla of doubt, attain our dream of dreams on May 9, 2016. Duterte pa more. Tsada, di ba?