Guialani waves the white flag

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

MAYOR Oscar Moreno’s accuser William Guialani sang to an entirely different tune yesterday, saying he was contemplating on a Tokhang-like “surrender” to the city’s political leader, and ask forgiveness for suing him on several occasions.

“Dili kay ordinanryo nga surrender lang, all-out surrender gyud,” Guialani told the Gold Star Daily.

Guialani’s revelation of his plan was in contrast to his feisty pronouncements a day after a division of the Court of Appeals (CA) sent city hall a copy of its resolution that dismissed Guialani’s grave misconduct case against Moreno and city treasurer Glenn Bañez. The CA also reversed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to punish the officials with dismissal and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

On Tuesday, Guialani lambasted the CA associate justices and vowed to pursue his case against Moreno all the way to the Supreme Court (SC).

But yesterday, Guialani said he was looking for a mediator, possibly a businessman coming from a political family in Misamis Oriental, to arrange a meeting between him and Moreno at city hall.

Guialani said he was planning on seeing Moreno in his office to apologize for the things he did to the mayor.

“Andam ko mag-sorry ni Mayor Moreno for whatever wrongdoing I have done,” he said.

Guialani said he was even willing to sign a waiver and withdraw all his cases against Moreno, including a plunder complaint he filed in connection with city hall’s health program.

“Human nakog pirma sa waiver ug sorry ni Mayor Moreno, magbilin pa kog awit nga ‘Walk Away,’ sabay kana-og sa iyang opisina,” he said.

The former barangay chairman of Taglimao said this the same day the September dismissal of his petition for disqualification against Moreno by Commission on Elections (Comelec) was reported.

From Vienna, Moreno welcomed the Comelec decision:  “Vox populi, vox Dei.” (The voice of the people is the voice of God.)

Moreno added: “It was very obvious that the disqualification case filed with the Comelec had no legal or cogent reason in the first place.”

He said Guialani’s petition was used in an endeavor “to becloud the people’s will.”

“It was plainly the result of a wild illusion, and an unmitigated disrespect–and desperate attempt to weaken the legitimacy–of a democratic process,” Moreno said.

Guialani also revealed that he was left behind by the people he had expected to help him, including his lawyers. He said he has ran out of funds and he could no longer afford lawyers’ fees.

He said he was also planning on moving to Canada where he could start afresh away from politics.

“Ma-o na nga ‘Walk Away’ ang akong gusto nga among theme song ni Mayor Moreno kay mo-adto man ko sa Canada,” Guialani said.

But while still waiting to be reconciled with Moreno,  Guialani said he would appeal the decisions of the CA and the Comelec because the law allows him to do that.

Guialani however said, “Slim ang akong chance nga ma-consider sa Comelec ug Court of Appeals ang akong motion kay alang-alang ilang usbon ang ilang decision pabor ni Moreno.”