Former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima
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By NITZ ARANCON, Correspondent

FORMER Justice Secretary Leila de Lima over the weekend affirmed that Mayor Oscar Moreno would be the administration Liberal Party’s official candidate for the city’s top seat in next year’s elections.

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De Lima, a senatorial candidate of the administration party, said this even as she welcomed the pledge of support of Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District to the top candidates of the LP in the national level.

Rodriguez, the leader of the Centrist Democratic Party (CDP), and Moreno have severed their political ties after the congressman challenged the reelection bid of the mayor.

De Lima came over for the Urban Poor Solidarity 2015 at the Capitol University gymnasium on Saturday.

There, she raised the hand of Moreno, the LP’s chairman for Cagayan de Oro, after addressing a crowd of about five thousand. De Lima said she raised Moreno’s hand as an affirmation that the mayor has remained as the LP’s standard bearer in the city, and as a gesture to reciprocate the mayor’s support for her bid for a Senate seat.

De Lima said she also welcomed Rep. Rodriguez’s support for the LP’s top candidates, specifically, presidential bet Manuel Roxas II and his running mate Naga Rep. Leni Robredo.

“Mas maganda po yun, kahit po magkakalaban  sila sa local politics, pero nagsama-sama naman sila in supporting the ‘Daan na Matuwid’ team. That’s very much welcome,” said de Lima.

De Lima said that personally, she would rather not take sides because both Moreno and Rodriguez are her friends. She said she and Moreno went to the same school while she and Rodriguez were good friends, too.

“Pag local politics, I’d  rather not take sides. I would always try to reach out both sides. Pareho  na man po sila deserving. Sana lang ho hindi na  sila naglaban. Sana lang ho, isa lang  sa kanila ang lumaban,” she said.

She however said that the LP can only have one official candidate for mayor.

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