Lao, Salcedo leaning toward Oca’s group

By NITZ ARANCON
with LITO RULONA
Correspondents

COUNCILORS Teodulfo Lao Jr. and Enrico Salcedo would stick it out with the Centrist Democratic Party (CDP) but they are gravitating back to the Liberal Party as allies in the city council.

Lao told the Gold Star Daily over the weekend that Mayor Oscar Moreno could count on him and Salcedo to join LP members in the local legislature.

“Unom man sila sa Liberal diha sa city council pero mahimo na kanang walo kay  gisultihan na man ko ni Councilor Salcedo nga  kon asa ako, tu-a usab siya uban nako… Gi-ingan na ako ni Councilor Salcedo nga kon asa ako motampo, tu-a pod siya,” said Lao.

The councilor’s pronouncement came after CDP leader Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District supposedly gave him and Salcedo the “liberty” to decide on their political moves.

Lao said Rodriguez told them this right after the congressman, who had challenged Mayor Oscar Moreno’s reelection bid, conceded to the local chief executive late in the evening right after the elections.

“Gi-ingnan kami ni Congressman Rufus nga libre na  kami asa modapig sa grupo sa city council basta kay among sigurohan nga ang  among dapigan alang sa kaayohan sa katawan,  dili kay basta na lamang mobabag,” he said.

Six LP members were elected to the next city council. They are Zaldy Ocon, Jay Pascual, Romeo Calizo, George Goking, Reuben Daba, and Ma. Lourdes Gaane.

With Lao and Salcedo back as allies of the Moreno administration, Vice Mayor-elect Raineir Joaquin Uy, an LP member, and the Liga ng mga Barangay representative to the city council could break the tie.

The Padayon Pilipino party of ex-mayor Vicente Emano has caused the election of eight of its members to the city council: Lourdan Suan, Edna Dahino, Annie Daba, Nadya Elipe, Dometilo Acenas, Ian Mark Nacaya, Leon Gan, and  Suzette Magtajas-Daba.

Late last week, Councilor Gan said the Padayon Pilipino would remain the city council majority. He had counted Lao and Salcedo in.

Former vice mayor Antonio Soriano said Uy’s role in the Moreno admistration is going to be “crucial” in that how the city council would perform in the next three years would depend on his rapport with the new set of councilors whether or not they are the mayor’s political allies.

Soriano said Uy would need to work on developing good relations with the councilors in order to convince them into supporting the plans of the Moreno administration.

Soriano pointed out: “Si Vice Mayor Uy mao karon ang silbing tulay tali sa city council ug sa mayor. Nan kon dili maayo ang iyang  relasyon sa iyang mga  kagawad, unsa may iyang ikapa-abot nga  suporta sa city council ngado sa mga plano sa chief executive?”

He said Uy would also need to seek the advice of senior members of the city council.

Soriano suggested that Uy go out of his way in order to reach out to the councilors, and treat them equally regardless of their political affiliations.

“Dili mahimo nga paboran ni Uy ang iya lang kapartido nga konsihal. Kinahanglan patas ang iyang pagdumala sa city council,” he said.

Soriano said he was convinced that Vice Mayor Caesar Acenas was voted out of office because “too much partisanship.”

He said people saw that Acenas and the city council majority rejected nearly everything that Moreno requested because of partisan politics.

“Sama anang budget nga gipangayo ni Moreno sa pag-transfer ug pag-close sa  basurahan, ilang gi-zero. Kinsa may malipay ana? Mao na nga nasuko na gyud ang tawo,” said Soriano.

Soriano also said Uy would need to learn and master parliamentary rules, saying he expects fireworks when the next city council starts its sessions.

“He can ask a lawyer who is an expert on parliamentary procedures to assist him… para dili mayagaw iyang pagdula diha sa city council. Kinahanglan nga kahibalo siya when to stop the proceedings,” he said.

He also cautioned Uy against disrespecting or treating any member of the city council rudely.

Soriano said, “He must be consultative. He can even facilitate a meeting with the mayor and members of the city council.”