Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano comforts his sister Nadya Elipe during a news conference yesterday at their house in Barangay Gusa where the ashes of their father, former mayor Vicente Emano, have been taken after his cremation. Gov. Emano announced that his sister Nadya, a lawyer and councilor, would replace their father as a candidate for vice mayor. Looking on are 2nd District congressional candidate Rufus Rodriguez and mayoral candidate Jose Gabriel La Viña. (photo by Jigger J. Jerusalem)
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By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondent
with URIEL C. QUILINGUING
Contributing Editor .

THE Padayon Pilipino yesterday announced its decision to field Councilor Nadya Emano-Elipe as its candidate for vice mayor to fill the vacuum resulting from the death of her father Vicente this week.

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Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano comforts his sister Nadya Elipe during a news conference yesterday at their house in Barangay Gusa where the ashes of their father, former mayor Vicente Emano, have been taken after his cremation. Gov. Emano announced that his sister Nadya, a lawyer and councilor, would replace their father as a candidate for vice mayor. Looking on are 2nd District congressional candidate Rufus Rodriguez and mayoral candidate Jose Gabriel La Viña. (photo by Jigger J. Jerusalem)

The announcement was made by Ms. Elipe’s brother, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano, during a news conference at his family’s home in Sta. Cecilia Village in Barangay Gusa where the Emano patriarch’s ashes were brought following his cremation Tuesday.

The elder Emano’s replacement, who is serving as a member of the city’s legislature until June 30, is the wife of provincial board member President Elipe, a candidate for vice governor. If both win in next week’s elections, the Elipes would be in control of the lawmaking bodies of the capitol and city hall.

Councilor Nadya Elipe bursts into tears as she gives a statement about her decision to run for vice mayor as a substitute candidate for her father Vicente Emano who died Tuesday. (photos by Jigger Jerusalem)

The announcement was made with her husband, mother Aloma, sister Dr. Natasha Elazegui, uncle Hernando Emano and niece Yevonna Yacine Emano in attendance.

The candidates of the Padayon Pilipino-Centrist Democratic Party-Hugpong ng Pagbabago came in full force. Among them were Ms. Elipe’s running mate Jose Gabriel La Viña, congressional candidates Rufus Rodriguez and Caesar Ian Acenas who welcomed ex-mayor Emano’s replacement.

“Bisan pa man sa among pag bangutan, bisan pa man og unsay maabot sa kandidatora ni Nadya, inyong hukom among dawaton,” said Gov. Emano.

He said her sister was qualified for the position, pointing out that she is a lawyer by profession who has been serving in the city council.

“Dili namo ikauwaw ug tagaan sya’g kahigayonan, usa ka abogada,” Emano said.

Elipe broke into tears when it was her time to give her acceptance message. She said she was certain that her father would want her to replace him as a candidate for vice mayor.

“Sama sa gi ingon ni manong (Gov. Emano), if Daddy would decide today, I’m sure he would want me to run,” she said.

Elipe promised to give her best if elected vice mayor of the city although she admitted that it would be difficult for her to match the kind of service that her late father gave when he was the political leader of the city.

She said, “Sa mga taga-Cagayan, supporters, kapitan… maningkamot ko nga sama sa akong amahan… dili man ko si Dongkoy Emano… ako maningkamot nga maka-anggid lang sa panerbisyo sa akong amahan.”

For the first time, Elipe revealed that her father had asked her before the filing of certificates of candidacy last year if she wanted to run for vice mayor. She said she declined, and told the former mayor that she just wanted to support him and her husband who set his eyes on the vice gubernatorial post of Misamis Oriental.

“I really wanted my Daddy to win,” said Nadya as she burst into tears.

She added: “Wala gyud sa akong huna-huna nga I will be filing my [certificate of] candidacy today. Ang ako lang makakapanya ko para sa akong amahan sa akong bana.”

Elipe vowed to fight for the Padayon Pilipino, the party founded by her late father, and “di ko mubiya sa akong mga kauban.”

As of 12 noon yesterday, the City Elections Office has yet to receive Elipe’s certificate of candidacy.

Aside from the COC, a copy of the death certificate of the elder Emano has to be submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Another documentary requirement is the party’s endorsement or certification stating that Elipe is a party member, and the person is the party’s official candidate.

Ramil Acol, city elections officer, said the local Comelec’s acceptance of documents would only be ceremonial since the approval of the substitution can only come from the Commission’s main office.

Acol said the Padayon Pilipino has until 12 noon of the election day to comply with the documentary requirements to make the substitution official.

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