‘Klarex promised to endorse me’ : Rufus

By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondent

REP. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District yesterday claimed that 1st District Rep. Rolando Uy gave him his word, and he was optimistic his counterpart would soon endorse his mayoral bid.

Rodriguez made this claim after Mayor Oscar Moreno revealed his list of candidates for congressmen and councilors. The mayor’s list includes Uy and one of his sons.

He said he was also confident that Uy would announce his support for candidates of the Centrist Democractic Party (CDP), a party headed by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez brushed aside reports that Uy was supporting Moreno. “Dili, si Klarex (Uy) sa ato gyud musuporta.” He claimed that he and Uy talked at the Batasan Pambansa last week, and Uy allegedly promised to endorse his bid to replace Moreno.

Rodriguez said the CDP would “adopt” Uy, a member of the administration party like Moreno, as its congressional bet in the 1st District.

“We have to wait for Klarex to make his pronouncement that would put to rest the issue,” Rodriguez said. He said the CDP would hold its convention in the city on Oct. 3, and Uy is expected to grace the event.

Rodriguez’s claims however were very different from what the public saw last weekend when Moreno and Uy showed during a public gathering that they have maintained their political alliance.

The usually timid Uy appeared with Moreno in a meeting of the Liberal Party last Saturday. He said he never entertained the idea of breaking ties with Moreno amid the announcement of Rodriguez.
“

What’s the reason for me to leave the Liberal Party?” Uy asked. Moreno announced his candidates for councilors and for the city’s two congressional posts––ex-councilor in the 2nd District and Uy in the 1st District.

According to Maricel Casino, the mayor’s spokesperson, more personalities from the camps of Rodriguez and ex-mayor Vicente Emano were joining the Liberal Party. (with reports from bencyrus ellorin)