Rufus’ running mate in Oca’s list of bets

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .

EX-COUNCILOR Roger Abaday, the running mate of former congressman Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District in the 2016 elections, has rejoined the group of Mayor Oscar Moreno in a bid to win a city council seat in next year’s mid-term elections.

Councilor George Goking revealed this yesterday even as he disclosed an initial list of candidates of the administration PDP-Laban.

The warring political groups of Moreno and ex-mayor Vicente Emano are finalizing their official lists of candidates here and may announce their bets next week, PDP-Laban and Padayon Pilipino sources told the Gold Star Daily.

Councilor George Goking said PDP-Laban has already completed filling out its line-up of candidates for councilors in the city’s 1st District.

In the list are Goking himself and councilors Zaldy Ocon, Reuben Daba, Edna Dahino, Romeo Calizo, Jay Pascual, and Abaday.

There is a political neophyte in the list: Councilor Annie Daba’s son Moreno III or Jun-jun.

Abaday, a former Kauswagan barangay chairman, served as a councilor of the city until 2016 when he ran for vice mayor. He lost to now Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy while his top bet ended up poor third in the mayoral race.

His decision to be Rodriguez’s running mate came at a time when he was about to step down as councilor — after serving three consecutive office terms as a councilor, he was constitutionally barred in 2016 to seek reelection.

For the 2nd district, Goking’s list include councilors Ian Mark Nacaya, Maria Lourdes Gaane, Suzette Magtajas-Daba, Teodulfo Lao Jr. and Enrico Salcedo. There are two non-incumbents: ex-councilor Edgar Cabanlas and Ermin Pimentel, the city’s housing czar.

“Na-ay pay usa nga  ilang gieserve,” said Goking.

Mayor Moreno neither confirmed nor denied Goking’s list but added that the PDP-Laban may announce its official list of candidates here next week.

“Daghan kaayong gusto motampo sa among grupo,” said Moreno.

The Padayon Pilipino meanwhile received a boost after finalizing a coalition agreement with Rodriguez’s Centrist Democratic Party on Saturday, said former councilor Alexander Dacer.

Dacer said it was Rodriguez who called him up so he could broker a meeting between the ex-congressman and former mayor Emano.

“Wala lang ko makatambong sa maong meeting kay duna koy gi-atimang nga trabaho, pero tino-od na, nag-meeting sila ni Dongkoy ug Rufus,” he said.

Dacer revealed an initial list of Padayon Pilipino-CDP candidates for city council seats: former vice mayor Ian Acenas, Ramon Tabor, Adrian Barba, Dante Pajo and Alden Bacal, all former members of the city council who served three consecutive office terms as of 2016.

“Alang-alang magkuha pa silag la-ing kandidato, kana gyung kara-an kay na-a nay pangalan,” Dacer said.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny  Vincente Emano confirmed the Saturday meeting between his father and Rodriguez, adding that it was to finalize their list of candidates.

Gov. Emano said the Padayon Pilipino and CDP may announce their common list of candidates next week.

He said the Padayon Pilipino list would include candidates for governor, vice governor, congressmen, provincial board members and mayors. The mayoral candidates would include those in Gingoog and El Salvador, the province’s component cities.

“Na-a nalay tulo ka munisipyo,  nga amo pang i-finalize ang list of candidates kay na-ay among mga kauban sa partido, parehong   gusto mokandidato sa pagka-mayor. Dili man kana mahimo nga mag-kontra sila kay usa ra man ang among gisandigan sa partido sa Padayon Pilipino,” Emano said.