Lawyer promises to run half-naked again if former mayor loses anew

By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondent

IN 2013, lawyer James Judith posted on a Facebook group that he would run around Divisoria half-naked to celebrate if the then mayor and reelectionist Vicente Emano lost in the May elections. Emano lost, and when members of the Facebook group told him to make good his promise, Judith did.

Now a city hall consultant, Judith is again making the same promise––he will do a repeat of his 2013 run, wearing nothing but short pants and running shoes, if Emano runs for mayor and then loses for the second time to declared reelectionist Mayor Oscar Moreno. And the underwear is going to be optional, of course.

Emano has reportedly mobilized his Padayon Pilipino party, and one of his trusted political allies, Councilor Alexander Dacer, announced that the ex-mayor would challenge Moreno’s reelection bid next year.

Judith said his pledge to do a repeat of his 2013 run is a political statement, and “my advocacy” that Cagayanons “should never allow Emano’s return.”

“No more Dongkoy… never again,” said Judith.

Judith was among the many figures in the movement that worked against Emano’s reelection in the 2013 elections. A known Emano basher, he filed a number of cases against Emano and his allies, and actively campaigned for recall elections in the city in the aftermath of the 2011 Typhoon Sendong devastation. The recall campaign failed. When Moreno took over in 2013, Judith became a city hall consultant.

But next year, Judith said he would not only run half-naked around Divisoria but also for a seat in the city council.