Oca: Group intact despite Uy’s jump

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

MAYOR Oscar Moreno over the weekend said his political group in the city has remained intact despite 1st District Rep. Rolando Uy’s move to join the PDP-Laban, the party of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Moreno, chairman of the administration Liberal Party here, said, “Ang atong grupo intact pa gihapon, wala gyud mabungkag.”

Moreno cited Uy’s decision to support the presidential bid of Sen. Grace Poe at the height of the campaign period while the rest of their group remained with LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II.

He said Uy’s decision to support Poe was understandable, and it did not break their political ties.

Moreno said he sees no problem with Uy leaving the LP for good to be with the political party of the next President, pointing out that it could put Uy in a better position to serve.

He said Uy would likely be given a committee chairmanship, or vice chairmanship at the least.

“It could be a blessing, and it’s actually a wise move,” said Moreno. “Let’s face it, the President is PDP-Laban, and Congressman Uy  is serving his second term. He could become a (committee) chairman or vice chairman.”

Moreno said this could only happen if a congressman is an ally, and votes for the next Speaker of the House.

“Kinahanglan nga to-a gyud ka mo-uban sa majority group kon gusto ka mga mahimong chairman or vice chairman sa mga standing committees kay kinsa may moboto nimo sa pagka-chairman or vice  chairman kon to-a ka sa minority,” he said.

Moreno said he and Uy would make sure that their political ties would not be affected by the congressman’s decision to join PDP-Laban.

He said he understands Uy’s decision, and does not hold it against him.

“Ang partido kutob ra kana sa election. Paghuman sa election wala nay partido. Imbis politika  atong atimanon, serbisto na. And that is what a public servant should focus on,” Moreno said.

He said Uy was already bent on severing ties with the LP during the election period because the congressman felt that Roxas’s group treated him badly.

Uy, according to Moreno, felt bad because Roxas “adopted” his lone challenger, Councilor Lourdes Darimbang, as congressional candidate in the city’s 1st District.

“What happened was, nagmahay siya pero ang atong grupo intact. Wala gyud mabungkag,” Moreno said.