It’s business as usual at city hall, say Oca supporters

By BENCYRUS ELLORIN, Contributor
SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
and ALWEN SALIRING
Correspondents

SUPPORTERS of Mayor Oscar Moreno said they were unfazed over Rep. Rufus Rodriguez’s announcement that he would run for mayor, adding that it was “business as usual” at city hall with the mayor making sure that public services are unhampered and projects are implemented.

Gusa barangay chairman Marlo Tabac belittled the announcement of Rodriguez. He opined that the announcement made on the 62nd birthday of the congressman last week did not make a dent in Moreno’s political machinery.  “If at all it made an impact, it was for its shock value,” said Tabac.

He said the so-called exodus of Moreno’s political allies was overhyped, and some of the changes at city hall had been coming, with or without Rodriguez’s declaration.

He said that up to the last minute, Moreno was assured of Rodriguez’s support. “Mao nga na shock gayud ang kampo ni Moreno, and then photos of personalities surrounding Rodriguez in his home in Barangay Nazareth circulated on social media,” Tabac said while noting that many people went to the congressman’s house supposedly just to celebrate his birthday. At city hall, Moreno admitted that the announcement of Rodriguez created some problems but said it was far from a crisis situation.

Among the drastic measures made by Moreno was the firing of city administrator Hilario Roy Raagas but city hall said the move was long overdue.

Shy Maagad, one of the leaders of the “Barangay Council of Leaders,” one of the political machineries of Moreno, said the group has remained strong, and are now mobilizing for the reelection of the mayor.

“Of course, we cannot please everybody but we are intact and getting ready for action,” Maagad said. City hall spokesperson Maricel Casino said the mayor wants to focus on his projects. “Off course, we would be dishonest if we say we are not affected but at the end of the day, we are very optimistic, Mayor Moreno will come out stronger.”

She added that “Moreno’s camp is now baggage free” because of Rodriguez’s announcement. But a lawyer and political analyst said it was too early to tell that the decision of the popular congressman to run for mayor means the demise of Moreno and the comeback of Emano

“That is purely speculation. It is a no brainer to see who is behind this spin. Remember, Moreno is an incumbent who has done a lot of good projects in health, education and infrastructure,” said, lawyer Florentino Dumlao III of the political think tank Advocates for Good Governance.

He said last week’s “exodus” was a political spin. “To start with, the people seen with Rodriguez when he declared his mayoralty bid are not really pure allies of Moreno. Many have grievances with mayor for so long. Some are disgruntled because the favors they were asking from Moreno, ranging from juicy positions to business deals, were not given,” he said.

If the Moreno camp manages the situation properly, Dumlao said, the mayor could come out stronger.  “Viewed positively, what happened is a cleansing, not an exodus or abandonment. Cleansing rids any system of toxins, and the body becomes stronger,” he said.

Surprised
Like Mayor Oscar Moreno, Emano was taken aback by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez’s declaration, according to Dacer. “Nakurat lang si Dongkoy (Emano), wala na tense,” said Dacer who, long before Rodriguez’s announcement, has been publicly saying that the congressman would severe his political ties with Moreno in an attempt to unseat the mayor.

Dacer said Emano was “amused” because Rodriguez had repeatedly said that he and his family would remain as Moreno’s allies, and that he would support the mayor’s reelection bid.

He said Rodriguez’s declaration would not affect the Padayon Pilipino, and that it was confident that the party would remain intact.

Dacer said Rodriguez was overconfident, and underestimated Emano when he said that one reason why he decided to run for mayor was because he feared that Moreno would lose to the Padayon Pilipino leader.

“Hugas kamot siya (Rodriguez) parehas kang Pontius Pilate. Siya ray gatoo nga siya ra ang makapildi kang Dongkoy,” he said. He said there were other factors, and issues that Rodriguez would need to consider such as the role he played in the Lower House in pushing for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Dr. Reuben Daba, a losing candidate for councilor of the Liberal Party (LP) in the 2013 elections, said he doubted if Emano would be able to stage a successful comeback, saying that the 74-year old politician was already “vomited” by Cagayanons in the last elections.

Lawyer James Judith, a Rodriguez supporter who has served as a legal consultant to Moreno, said a political realignment was ongoing, and there were “other possibilities” other than a head-on collision between the mayor and the congressman in the 2016 elections.

A third party group of mostly non-politicians started meeting last week over the possibility of “unity talks” between Moreno’s and Rodriguez’s groups, and it tasked former vice mayor Antonio Soriano to mediate and try to bring the two politicians to the negotiating table.

But in case Rodriguez and Moreno won’t reach an agreement, Judith said the congressman’s group was confident that it could prevent Emano’s comeback especially if it wins Rep. Uy to its side.

Judith said Rodriguez’s declaration left Moreno’s political machinery weakened if not, lacking. Judith, who plans to run for councilor under Rodriguez’s ticket, said he would tender his resignation from city hall any time this week out of delicadeza.

He claimed Moreno tried to contact him and other allies after the announcement of Rodriguez. “Mas dugay hinuon among panag-uban ni Rufus so didto ako niya,” he said.