Moreno group eyes Nacaya as ally: Ocon

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

MAYOR Oscar Moreno and incoming Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya have opened communication lines.

Councilor Zaldy Ocon yesterday confirmed this even as he hinted that he was expecting the returning councilor, a long-time political supporter of ex-mayor Vicente Emano, to become an ally of the Moreno administration.

Ocon also claimed that two others– reelected Councilor Annie Daba and incoming Councilor Suzette Magtajas-Daba–have already committed to join Moreno’s group to form a new city council majority.

All three ran for city council seats and won in the May elections under the Padayon Pilipino party of Emano, Moreno’s political rival.

Ocon is the same councilor who earlier revealed that Councilor Edna Dahino, a Padayon Pilipino member, has already joined Moreno’s group.

But Daba and Magtajas-Daba took their oath of office yesterday along with other Padayon Pilipino members before Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano, the son of the party’s founder. Nacaya and Dahino did not show up during the oath-taking rites at the capitol.

The elder Emano’s son-in-law, outgoing Councilor President Elipe, said Nacaya was in Cebu, and the returning councilor has already taken his oath of office. He did not give details of Nacaya’s supposed oath-taking.

“Na-conflict man gud ang iyang schedule kay tu-a man siya karon sa Cebu. Pero naka-take oath na siya,” Elipe said.

Ocon however said Nacaya and Moreno had a meeting apparently to level off expectations. He declined to give details.

“Nag-estorya na si Nacaya ug Moreno pero off the record lang una unsay ilang gi-estoryahan,” he told the Gold Star Daily.

Ocon said the Moreno administration would have a new majority under the leadership of incoming Vice Mayor Vice Mayor Joaquin Raineir Uy, and this would be made known during the next legislature’s inaugural session on July 4.

As of yesterday, Ocon said he counted 10 councilors allied with the Moreno administration: councilors George Goking, Reuben Daba, Jay Pascual, Romeo Caliso, Lourdes Gaane, Enrico Salcedo, Teodulfo Lao Jr., Ian Mark Nacaya, Edna Dahino, and himself.

Ocon said the two Dabas earlier commited to become allies of the Moreno administration but he was taken aback to learn that they were sworn into office by Gov. Emano yesterday.

“Nagmahay ko nila kay nag-commit na kana sila nga mo-apil sa among grupo,” he said.

For her part, Magtajas-Daba said she would remain under the Padayon Pilipino but would keep an open mind about the Moreno administration’s legislative agenda “basta alang kini sa pagsilbi sa katawhan ning syudad.”

Magtajas-Daba said members of Moreno’s party invited her to be with the mayor’s group.

“Dili malikayan nga na-ay mga ingon niana kay mga amigo ra man gud gihapon nato na sila. Magpabilin lang ko sa Padayon Pilipino,” she said.

Magtajas-Daba took her oath of office at the capitol grounds before Gov. Emano along with councilors Daba, Leon Gan, Nadya Elipe, Lordan Suan, and Domelito Acenas Jr..

The elder Emano, ex-mayor Pablo Magtajas, outgoing Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas, provincial board members and barangay chairpersons identified with the Padayon Pilipino stood as witnesses.