Emano recovering from surgery: Alex

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .

FORMER mayor and candidate for vice mayor Vicente Emano had undergone surgery in one of the city’s hospitals, his long-time political ally ex-councilor Alexander Dacer revealed over the weekend.

Dacer said Emano was confined at the Capitol University Medical City in Gusa for three days after going under the knife for a still unclear ailment in June.

CUMC is the same hospital where the seasoned politician was placed under intensive care in 2015.

Dacer could not say what Emano’s health problem was but he disclosed that it had something to do with a nerve in the stomach.

He said he learned that the surgery only took about an hour and a three-day confinement.

During his public appearance in time for the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy, the 77-year-old Emano looked frail and he clearly lost much weight.

Dacer said Emano, despite his age and health concerns, can still carry out a citywide campaign for the vice mayoral post in an attempt to unseat reelectionist Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy next year.

He said Emano is slowly regaining his strength and he now has a healthy lifestyle.

“Maayo na siya (Dongkoy) moka-on, maayo na iyang katulog, dili na siya magsigarilyo kay gidid-an lagi siya sa iyang doktor sa pagpanabako. Basta kay hinay-hinay nagbalik ang iyang kabaskog,” Dacer said.

Emano’s 2016 rival for the city’s top post, Mayor Oscar Moreno, said the erstwhile leader of the city and founding head of the Padayon Pilipino would likely bow out of the vice mayoral race and give way to a substitute candidate.

“Akong tan-aw naay mo-substitute sa iya. Iya lang sa nga kuha-on ang momentum and then hopefully, mo-ingon dayon siya nga  dili na gyud kaya sa iyang lawas ug magpapuli na lamang siya aron ilang  makuha ang sympathy,” Moreno said.

He also noted that Emano served as vice mayor during the Jaraula administration, and cited his (Emano’s) record when he held the position. “Dili man gani siya motunga sa session. He never presided except for one or at most, two  occasions, sulod sa tulo ka tuig kana nga wala siya mag-preside. Unsa may iyang papel as vice mayor?” Moreno asked rhetorically.

Emano’s decision to run for vice mayor came at the eleventh hour, and it surprised many. His daughter, Councilor Nadya Elipe, was supposed to be the running mate of former Agriculture undersecretary Jose Gabriel La Viña under the Padayon Pilipino-Centrist Democratic Party coalition.

Dacer said Emano was forced to run for vice mayor because his son-in-law President Elipe was asked to run for Misamis Oriental vice governor.

The newly appointed provincial board member, according to Dacer, was asked by Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano to be his running mate.

Dacer said Elipe’s decision to seek the province’s second highest position was what made Emano’s daughter Nadya to back out.

“Ma-o tong gipogos na lamang sa among grupo si Mayor Emano nga ma-oy mag-vice mayor ni La Viña kay gusto man sa among coalition nga na-a gayoy Emano modagan,” he said.

Nadya’s husband told local radio that it was his and his wife’s decision that only one of them would run for public office for the sake of their family, explaining that one of them needs to take care of their children.

Elipe said his decision to run for vice governor came despite a ruling by the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan that found him guilty of graft and falsification of public documents. He said the decision of the anti-graft court is on appeal and is not final and executory.

The case is about the alleged faking of the daily time record of his sister Pristine Quizon who served as his staff member when he was a city councilor.

The court slapped Elipe with an imprisonment sentence and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office.

“Tino-od nga na-a nang akong kaso pero pending appeal pa man,” Elipe said.